Indian filmmaker SS Rajamouli and Hollywood director James Cameron came together for a rare virtual interaction that celebrated storytelling, spectacle, and the evolving future of filmmaking. The two directors, who have each reshaped cinematic language in their own ways, engaged in a wide-ranging conversation around Avatar: Fire and Ash, its emotional core, and the challenges facing modern cinema.

SS Rajamouli on what he liked about Avatar: Fire and Ash

Having watched Avatar: Fire and Ash ahead of its release, Rajamouli shared his first reaction with visible admiration. He praised the film’s immersive world, the introduction of new cultures like the Wind Traders and the Ash People, and described the experience as pure cinematic joy. Yet, beyond the scale and visual grandeur, it was the protagonist’s inner conflict that left the deepest impact on him.