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James Cameron Thinks "Story & Not Technology" Most Important in a Film

Filmmaker James Cameron (Avatar) stressed in a conclave in India's capital New Delhi on Saturday evening that story and not technology was the most important in a film, according to reports.

Discussing "The Future of Cinema" with Bollywood's megastar Aamir Khan (Lagaan) in this conclave in a five star hotel, Cameron reportedly said that storytelling and performance by actors was still very important in filmmaking.

Cameron predicted a wave of 3D films. He argued that people wanted to go back to the cinema, sharing vibe with an audience. He further said that he was honored to be sharing the stage with Aamir Khan. Cameron concluded with a Na'avi sentence: "May the Great Mother smile on us all." This was said to be Cameron's first visit to India.

Aamir Khan reportedly said on the occasion that he could never predict what an audience would like.

Aroon Purie, Editor-in-Chief of India's leading newsmagazine "India Today", who chaired the session, reportedly called Cameron "master of alternative reality in Hollywood" and described Khan as the "master of real entertainment in what we like to call Bollywood". "Both set the rules of the game only to redefine them", he added.

Purie referred to Cameron as "king of the world", an "eternal outsider who loves scaring Hollywood studios to death", and "a genius because he makes us believe". He described Khan as "India's most consistent box office star", one who "likes swimming against the tide", and whose "films always go beyond just entertainment", reports suggest.

Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged Hollywood, Bollywood, and other major film centers of the world to work together to take the cinema to new heights. Cinema being a very powerful medium, if handled carefully, could be effectively utilized to bring positive change in the world, Rajan Zed, who is the chairperson of the Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.

This "India Today Conclave 2010", whose theme was "New Decade: Great Expectations", was organized by "The India Today Group" at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi on March 12 and 13. "This decade holds great expectations for India and the world", Aroon Purie, Group Chairman, said.

Speakers on other topics at the Conclave included author Salman Rushdie, India's key Government ministers and other politicians, Cisco CEO, Google President of Global Sales, yoga expert Swami Ramdev, Harvard economics professor, Ford Motor CEO, Facebook co-founder, Godrej President, goal keeper of Indian hockey team, Indian actors Ranbir Kapoor and Asin Thottumkal.

Launched in 2002, this annual Conclave was described as: "an international forum for ideas & debate", and "a forum for the finest minds in the world to engage in a free and frank exchange of ideas". Attendees anticipated were: Government ministers, political leaders, top bureaucrats, diplomats, intellectuals, scientists, academicians and thought leaders, corporate heads & senior business executives. Registration fee was US$1,800 or Indian Rupees 85,000 and participation was limited to 300. India Today Group is a leading media conglomerate of India.