Marinaspeak: You want to be so Western… go back to roots where real knowledge is

Earlier in the day, she also addressed the media alongside artist Nikhil Chopra, curator of the sixth edition of KMB. Acknowledging to be deeply inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s frequently cited words, “First, they will ignore you, then they will laugh at you, then they will fight you, then you will win”, she also noted that her engagement with India began during her childhood in Yugoslavia, shaped by the friendship between India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.

Sharing how her emotional and spiritual relationship with India began in 1979, she observed how today’s India no longer inspired her, owing to its tendency to distance itself from its own heritage and culture in pursuit of Western values. “You want to be so Western. You do everything that is actually wrong. Everything that’s wrong in the Western world has become fascinating for you because it’s new and different. Go back to the roots where real knowledge is. The old India has knowledge.”

The 2025 Praemium Imperiale Award winner for sculpture said, “You have to go to nature. Nature is everything — the high mountains, the rivers, exploding volcanoes… sitting under a tree with closed eyes. There are the answers, asking you who you are, what your aim is, and what you have to do. Nature is really the biggest teacher that we have to know.”

The press conference also saw her address allegations that she had connections with notorious child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “I never knew that I was on the Epstein files. I never met Epstein,” she said.

She also recalled the time when her name came up in the leaked Podesta emails in 2016. She has sent an email to John Podesta, an American political consultant who previously served as White House chief of staff to then US President Bill Clinton, at the request of his brother Tony Podesta with whom she used to work, inviting John to a performance dinner called ‘Spirit Cooking’, which she said was named so in a poetic manner.

The conversation also saw the “grandmother of performance art”, as she likes to call herself, map her artistic journey, revealing how she began painting at the age of 14, before she realised her true love lay in performance art. “You can’t become an artist; you have to be born an artist,” she said.

Describing herself as “incredibly stubborn”, she said that despite nearing 80 she is in no mood to slow down and has her programme chart ready up until 2032, including a movie directed by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín. “He is a brilliant filmmaker who made films about three women — Jackie Kennedy (Jackie, 2016), Lady D (Spencer, 2021) and Maria Callas (Maria, 2024). I am the fourth woman he wants to make a film about,” she said, adding, “But it’s not just a film anymore. We have made a contract that he will follow the most important events of my life, including my funeral, and he will only release the film after I die. Thus, I will never get to see it. But, then, I asked him a simple question: ‘What if you die first?’ He’s only in his 40s, but who knows? In response, he told me, ‘Then you’re going to make a film about my funeral and release it’. So, let’s see.”

Anandu Suresh is a distinguished Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express Online, where he serves as a leading voice in cinematic critique and industry analysis. With over six years of rigorous experience in the media landscape, he has established a reputation for incisive, long-form commentary that bridges the gap between commercial cinema and art-house narratives. Experience & Career Anandu’s professional journey is rooted in a deep academic and practical foundation in the humanities and communication. He holds a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature and a PG Diploma in Journalism and Communication. Before ascending to his current editorial leadership role at The Indian Express, he honed his skills on the news desk of The New Indian Express in Hyderabad. His career is marked by a transition from core news operations to specialized cultural journalism, allowing him to bring a structured, news-oriented rigor to the entertainment beat. Expertise & Focus Areas While Anandu’s portfolio spans the global cinematic landscape, he is widely regarded as an expert in Malayalam Cinema. His unique approach to film criticism is defined by: Cinema Anatomy: A dedicated column where he deconstructs the structural layers of films to uncover deeper sociopolitical meanings. Marginalized Narratives: A commitment on-ground and analytical reporting on how cinema represents or fails marginalized communities. Critiquing "Performative Wokeness": Rigorous analysis of modern filmmaking trends, identifying the difference between authentic representation and superficial social commentary. Multimedia Discourse: Actively fostering continuous public dialogue on cinema through digital platforms and archival research. Authoritativeness & Trust Anandu Suresh is a trusted authority in the film journalism circuit, frequently providing exclusive coverage from major international festivals like the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). His work goes beyond standard reviews; he is known for holding the industry accountable, as seen in his extensive reporting on sensitive issues like the 2017 Kerala actress assault case and the legal complexities surrounding film credits. By prioritizing "Journalism of Courage," Anandu ensures his readers receive commentary that is not only intellectually stimulating but also ethically grounded and factually robust. ... Read More

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