Mumin Chen, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India, identified the Indian film ‘Dhurandhar’ as the most impressive Indian film he viewed last year during his remarks at the Taiwan Film Festival in New Delhi on October 24. Chen, who is also a political science professor and currently serves as an ambassador, expressed a particular interest in political cinema. He said, “Because I am also a political science professor and right now working as an ambassador. So I watch a lot of political movies in India. So last year, the most impressive one I saw was Dhurandhar.”
Chen complimented actor and producer Aamir Khan for his contributions to Indian cinema, particularly his films addressing social issues, and also expressed admiration for Shah Rukh Khan. “And about Indian actors and also movie producers, I think Aamir Khan is very impressive,” Chen said. He added, “Because I have been watching his film when he was young and he produces some very good movies about Indian societies, some very critical issues. And of course, other bigger movie icons like Shah Rukh Khan, I also love them.”
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At the festival, which showcased Taiwanese cinema in New Delhi, organisers presented a variety of documentaries and dramas designed to introduce Indian audiences to Taiwan’s culture, technology, and sporting achievements. Chen emphasised the limited awareness of Taiwanese cinema among Indian viewers, stating, “Taiwanese, just like Indians, also like movies; like I also watch a movie every week. But very few Indian friends know about Taiwanese movies.”
He noted that the festival has been held annually in Delhi and expanded to Mumbai this year to offer audiences a broader perspective on Taiwan. “We also select dramas. We want Indian friends to have a more comprehensive view of Taiwan, different aspects,” Chen said.
Highlighting the festival’s focus on Taiwan’s sporting and technological strengths, Chen referred to a baseball film depicting Taiwan’s team winning a world championship as illustrating Taiwan’s spirit of perseverance. He said, “But what I want Indian friends to know is that this is the spirit of Taiwan. You never give up.” Chen also mentioned Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and high technology as key areas for potential closer cooperation between Taiwan and India.
Chen expressed a desire for increased collaboration between the Indian and Taiwanese film industries, noting that some Indian films have been shot in Taiwan and there has been prior joint cooperation on films, but “not enough.” He said, “We want to see more because India is a big movie country. And Taiwanese people also like to see movies very much. So this is a good opportunity for both sides to cooperate in the future.” He further hoped for a reciprocal exchange, with more Indian films reaching Taiwanese audiences: “And I’m also thinking that not just having Taiwanese movies shown in India, I also hope more Indian movies will be seen in Taiwan.”
Isabelle Ling, head of the cultural division of TECC, explained that the festival programme in Delhi and Mumbai included documentaries, dramas, and films representing various genres to provide Indian audiences with a broader understanding of Taiwanese life and culture. She said the organisers selected films around the themes of sport, technology, and culture to communicate the concept of “Team Taiwan.”
Ling observed that Taiwan’s position in the international community makes sharing its culture especially important. She said, “Because for us, it’s not easy to survive in the international society. So we want Indian audiences to know about our Taiwanese culture.” She also expressed hope for greater collaboration between Indian and Taiwanese filmmakers, recalling a previous screening of the first Indian-Taiwanese co-produced film, ‘Demon Hunter.’ “It was the first step. But later by later, we will in the future cooperate for more good movies,” she said.
Ling also highlighted Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee’s global influence on filmmakers and affirmed that cinema can serve as a bridge connecting creative communities in India and Taiwan. “Ang Lee influenced so many talented filmmakers all over the world,” she said. “It’s the same in Taiwan and also the same in India. So I think the movie is a very good bridge to combine India and Taiwan.”
The festival also featured films addressing diverse perspectives, including LGBTQ-themed movies, with Ling stating, “So in this film festival, we have different types of films. The special one, we play the LGBTQ-type movies on Sunday.” She explained this selection aimed to encourage dialogue and sharing of viewpoints through cinema.
Ling shared her appreciation for Indian films, mentioning she regularly watches Indian movies on Netflix. She said, “I watch a lot of Indian movies on Netflix. For example, ‘Toaster’. The best thing in Indian movies is that they can discover a very, very small thing. Then they extend it into a very beautiful story.” She added that Taiwanese audiences and filmmakers could learn much from Indian storytelling techniques, describing the film exchange as a valuable cultural exchange.
Miyu Huang, a Taiwanese dance school teacher participating in the festival, described her group’s involvement in cultural events uniting Taiwanese and Indian traditions. She said the group performed at Taiwan’s National Day and participated in the Lai Haraoba Dance Festival, presenting a dance-fusion drama based on the Ramayana. Huang said, “This is our honour to join the Taiwan Festival in New Delhi. Actually, TECC (Taipei Economic and Cultural Center) invited us to join the Taiwan Festival.”
Huang expressed admiration for Indian culture and recounted enjoying wearing Indian attire. “We feel we are proud of India, and we are wearing Indian dress. We also love Indian culture,” she said. She added that Taiwanese films had made an emotional impression at the festival, remarking, “And in New Delhi, seeing Taiwanese films, we feel so touched at heart because the movie always encourages everyone. So, we are so happy in New Delhi.” Huang called for more cross-cultural activities to strengthen ties between Taiwan and India and mentioned her group had watched Indian films in theatres, citing Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan as favourite actors and recalling the film ‘Baahubali.’
Eric Erickson, an American resident in Delhi since 2019, attended the festival after hearing of it from Taiwanese friends. He said, “I’m Eric Erickson. I’ve been living in Delhi since 2019. I’ve been working here. I’m from the United States of America.” Erickson viewed the film ‘Hero Hito’ at the festival and found it memorable because some opening scenes were filmed in Arizona, where he was raised. “Yes, I saw Hero… Hero Hito. It was very interesting,” he said. “I actually grew up right in Arizona, where a lot of the beginning scenes were taken. So, it was kind of nostalgic to see that from my childhood.” Erickson also spoke of his experience with Bollywood films and named ‘Three Idiots’ as one that stood out to him, saying, “I’ve seen some Bollywood movies. Three Idiots. It was pretty good.”
The 2026 Taiwan Film Festival in India is currently underway in New Delhi from October 24 to October 25, 2026, before moving to Mumbai on October 31. Organised by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India (TECC India), the festival features contemporary Taiwanese cinema addressing themes such as sports culture, technology, family, and gender diversity.