Welkomstwoord bij filmpremière Mercy in Pathe Spui,  8 mei 2026

Distinguished guests,

As Mayor of The Hague,
the international city of peace and justice,
it is both an honour and a pleasure to welcome you
to the Dutch premiere of Mercy.

It is a special honour to have the film’s producer and lead actor,
Neeraj Vasudeva, with us this evening.
Welcome, and thank you very much for being here.

You have been the driving force and the visionary behind this project,
the creative mind who turned an idea into reality.
A vision that has resulted in the film we are about to watch tonight.

Around this time next week, we hope to welcome
Prime Minister Modi to our beautiful city.
As you may know, it will be his second official visit to the Netherlands.
During his previous visit, he highlighted
the strong and enduring ties between India and the Netherlands,
and expressed his appreciation to the Indian diaspora
for keeping Indian culture alive, even far from home.

On the eve of his visit,
the premiere of this film once again demonstrates
just how strong those ties truly are.
Not only across the Netherlands as a whole,
but especially here in The Hague,
the Dutch city with the largest Indian community,
as well as many people who feel deeply connected
to India and its culture.

While Hollywood may lead in revenue,
Bollywood produces more films than anywhere else in the world.
The audience for Indian cinema is vast, spread across the globe and,
by some estimates, reaches up to one billion viewers.

In recent years, alongside the traditional Bollywood films
filled with song, dance, and romance,
there has been growing space
for more diverse and layered forms of storytelling.

Mercy stands out as a powerful example of this shift,
a serious drama that engages with a deeply sensitive subject.

Films like this remind us that art helps us to better understand
the world around us.
Film, in particular, is a powerful medium,
because it allows us to connect so closely with its characters.

The best films raise important questions
and leave it to us, the audience,
to reflect and find our own answers.

Mercy does exactly that.

It explores the fragile space
between hope and fear,
between pain and compassion,
between holding on and letting go.

Mercy is a film that invites reflection on life,
death and the importance of family.

I wish you a meaningful evening,
and a film that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Enjoy the film.