“Somewhere between right and wrong, there is a garden. I will meet you there,” wrote Rumi, the revered 13th-century Sufi poet born in the Balkh region of Afghanistan. Centuries later, Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman and Hollywood producer Arno Krimmer are joining forces to bring Rumi’s life and philosophy to the big screen.
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Reflecting on the inspiration behind the project, Rahman said Rumi occupies a unique place among poets and thinkers. “There are poets and philosophers before Rumi, and then there is Rumi,” he noted. “Even if you don’t believe or understand every statement from the Masnavi, it is soul-satisfying because everything is deeply experienced and comes from a different place.”
Rahman described Rumi’s message of spiritual awakening through pain, saying: “If you take the simplest of wounds, it is a place where the light enters. When someone is truly hurt, it opens new pathways in their life and spirituality.”
The discussion turned to non-judgmentalism, a central theme in Rumi’s teachings. Citing the poet’s famous line — “Somewhere beyond right and wrong, there is a garden. I will meet you there” — Rahman emphasized a worldview that rises above cultural and religious boundaries. “We judge, we label, we divide — good, bad. But beyond all of it, the light of God exists in each of us. Irrespective of belief, it connects us at the core of humanity,” he said.
For Arno Krimmer, the film marks the realisation of a dream he has carried for more than 20 years. He credits destiny for bringing him together with Rahman and aligning their shared passion. Introduced to Rumi’s writings by German scholar Annemarie Schimmel, Krimmer recalled becoming “intoxicated” by the poet’s work, even as he acknowledged the complexities involved in creating a cinematic portrayal of Rumi’s life and vision.
