Category: Film

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Film

Kashish Film Fest to return next month

The ‘Queer Film Festival’ comes back for the sixth time at three iconic locations in South Mumbai; registrations have opened.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival returns for its sixth edition this May – with a lineup of around 180 films from 44 countries, it is bigger tha previous editions. South Asia’s biggest and India’s only mainstream LGBT film fest will be held between May 27 and 31, 2015 at three venues – the iconic art deco Liberty Cinema, Alliance Francaise de Bombay and the Max Muller Bhavan. Online delegate registrations have opened on the festival website www.mumbaiqueerfest.com.   

“We are indeed very happy to continue to organise our festival at Liberty as the main venue. Its grandeur and scale is befitting the ambitious scale of KASHISH this year,” said festival director Sridhar Rangayan. “Considering the sheer number of entries we received and the diversity of experiences each of them offered, we decided to expand the framework of KASHISH. We have included one more venue to accommodate more films, so that the audience has more varied choice of films to pick and view. In terms of venues, films, allied events there is a lot the festival has to offer this year,” he added.

There will be film screenings, book readings, panel discussions and performances, all of them highlighting the cultural diversity of its host city Mumbai. The theme for this year, ‘Reaching Out, Touching Hearts’ reflects the urgent need for all of to reach across barriers and boundaries and reach out to everyone – parents, families, friends, colleagues and peers. KASHISH is not only a platform for showcasing quality cinema, but also a platform for creating awareness about human rights and equal rights, the organisers said.

“This year the influx of film submissions was so high, the preview panel had to work hard to pick the best. Our festival is slowly and steadily becoming a platform for filmmakers and audience to come together to share and experience quality LGBT cinema,” said Saagar Gupta, Director of Programming.

KASHISH is organised by Solaris Pictures, and The Humsafar Trust is the co-organiser.

The schedule

May 27 to 31, 2015 at Liberty Cinema,

May 28 to 30, 2015 at Alliance Française de Bombay, and

May 29 to 30, 2015 at Max Mueller Bhavan (screening only on May 30, 2015).

Look up www.mumbaiqueerfest.com for details. There is a 20% early bird discount till April 26, 2015.

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Film

Film screening: ‘Baandhon’ at The Root Reel

Friday evenings are perfect for watching films. Head to Churchgate this evening to watch ‘Baandhon’, a critically acclaimed Assamese film.

If you happen to find yourself in town tomorrow and you’re in the mood for some good cinema, make your way to the Theosophy Hall at Churchgate to catch the screening of Baandhon, the award winning Assamese film by Jahnu Barua.

Baandhon (Waves of Silence) is a gentle paced, minimalist film about an elderly couple leading a sheltered existence in a town in Assam. It’s a bare-bones story that is literally just this: a perennially-bickering old man and his wife are unexpectedly visited by the harsh realities of the outside world when their grandson Pona – an IIT Bombay student who is the centre of their universe – goes missing on the night of 26/11.

The film’s director Jahnu Barua is a multiple National Award-winning director and this stark, moving film has won the Opening Film Indian Panorama at the 43rd International Film Festival of India, Best Feature Film in Assamese Award at the 60th National Film Awards and the Best Film, Indian Films Competition, Bengaluru International Film Festival.

The film is presented by The Root Reel as part of the chapter where they celebrate the best of regional cinema from India, often unfairly ignored due the overshadowing presence of Bollywood.

Head to Alliance Francaise de Bombay, New Marine Lines, Churchgate. The screening starts at 6:30 pm sharp and entry is free but on a first-come-first-seated basis.

(Compiled by Medha Kulkarni)

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Film

‘I kept thinking: I’m shooting with Bakhtavar’

Former model and actor Shiv Pandit talks about his new film ‘Boss’ which hits theatres today, among other Bollywoody things.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Shiv Pandit He made a smashing debut with the gritty Shaitan, even garnering a Filmfare nomination for his role as Dash in the film. However, former model, RJ and popular advertisement face Shiv Pandit didn’t follow up his first film role with a slew of films. He says he prefers to lie low, choosing his films and directors with care.

As Shiv’s newest film Boss (starring Akshay Kumar and Mithun Chakraborty, among others) releases today, the actor talks to The Metrognome about his journey in films, why he doesn’t like the ‘struggler’ word and why Akshay is a cool co-star.

You used to be an RJ and TV host before your foray into films. What prompted you to take up films?

Films were always on my mind. I was just waiting for the right opportunity. Shaitan (his debut film) was one such film that I couldn’t refuse because of its script and my role. Hence I took it up. From there on I wanted to concentrate completely on my film career.

What was it like, working in Shaitan? How did you get the chance to work in this film?

I got a call from the director Bejoy’s (Nambiar) office post which I auditioned with Kalki Koechlin. The experience was brilliant. I connected well with the cast, especially with Bejoy. He is young, intelligent and an extremely stylish filmmaker.

Tell us about Boss. What is your role in the film like and how was the experience working on this character?

Boss is an out-and-out commercial masala entertainer. Post Shaitan, I wanted to do a different genre and reach out to the masses. The producer Ashvini Warde had seen Shaitan and liked my work. The entire experience has been superb. I was working with great stalwarts from the industry, like Akshay Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty and Danny Dengzongpa. On the sets I would often have fan boy moments. I couldn’t believe I was working with the same people who I had grown up watching on screen.

What is Akshay Kumar like as an actor and co-star?

Akshay Kumar is just brilliant on screen. He is an extremely supportive co-star, too. He gives his co-stars the space they need to perform, which only enhances the shot or scene. He is Shiv Pandit so focussed and full of energy, which always inspires his co-stars to give their best shot.

Was there an interesting incident that occurred during the making of Boss?

There have been many interesting incidents. One such incident occurred when I was shooting with Danny Denzongpa. This was the first time I was giving a shot with him. And in my head, I kept thinking, “I am giving a shot with Bakhtavar,” (Danny played Bakhtavar in the film Hum)

Can you say you have been a struggler who got a very good break?

I don’t like the word ‘struggler’ per se. I am extremely optimistic and patient as a person. I have patiently waited for the right opportunity. I believe in myself and know that I have what it takes. My filmography may not be bursting with a lot of films. But I have taken my time to choose the right kind of film that I wanted to be a part of.

What is the one role you want to do?

As clichéd as it may sound, I want to portray all kinds of roles in various genres. Pin pointing any one will be difficult.

Is there a contemporary actor who you feel will be the next big thing?

There’s been a surge of amazing talent in the industry in the last few years. Pinpointing any one will be difficult.

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Film

Go for the Terrence Malick film festival

One of the world’s greatest living filmmakers is being feted for a day, today, at Peddar Road. Don’t miss it.
by Medha Kulkarni

Lovers of good cinema in this city have another reason to rejoice. This weekend sees the Terrence Malick film festival at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Peddar Road.

Terrence-MalickHailed as one of the world’s greatest living filmmakers, Terrence Malick stands apart from others in being a filmmaker-philosopher whose films are simultaneously beautifully impressionistic and hauntingly profound. Malick is a Rhodes Scholar and a teacher at the prestigious MIT and his films are a spellbinding visual experience and traverse the field of questions about existence, god and nature. With a visual and narrative style that is consistent throughout his entire body of work, he works with an enigmatic approach to narrative and character, innovative voice overs and a subtle juxtaposition of natural beauty with violence and an almost poetic investigation into dreams and nightmares.

With a career spanning over four decades, he has made only seven films, being a ruthless pursuer of perfection in his work. The one day festival will showcase three of his best works, namely To The Wonder, Days Of Heaven (in pic above) and Tree Of Life.

The festival has been organised by the Enlighten Society, an arts and media organisation based in Mumbai.

You can get more information about the festival and about the Enlighten Society here or on their Facebook page. Book tickets for the festival here. 

(Pictures courtesy andrewsidea.wordpress.com, www.anomalousmaterial.com)

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Film

‘Jalpari’ wins at Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival

Nila Madhab Panda’s second children’s film after the critically-acclaimed ‘I Am Kalam’ wins three awards at fest, including Best Film.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2013 was concluded recently, and one film that won in three separate categories was Jalpari – The Desert Mermaid.

This film is Nila Madhab Panda’s second outing after the critically-acclaimed I Am Kalam three years ago. Jalpari was one of hundreds of films nominated from across the world, and it won awards for Best Film (for producer Sushilkumar Agrawal), Best Screenplay (for Deepak Venkateshan) and Best Child Actress (for Leher Khan).

The Film Festival was held in Noida recently. After the win, Sushilkumar said, “It’s an honour to receive awards in three different categories for our film. These awards are a measure of appreciation and an encouragement for us to continue making and supporting content-oriented cinema. I always believed in its subject, powerful performances and treatment, which I knew had the potential to compete and also win. It’s celebration time for us.”

The film is centred around the travails of a girl child in a rural setup where female foeticide is rampant, and also stars Tannishtha Chatterjee, Parvin Dabas and Rajendra Gupta. “After receiving critical acclaim at international festivals, I am super ecstatic on receiving a triple triumph at India’s most honoured film festival for for my second film. Dadasaheb’s work, his history has been a source of inspiration and encourages me to make such movies,” added Nila Madhab Panda on receiving the award.

(Pictures courtesy www.indianexpress.com, jaiarjun.blogspot.com)

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Film

‘Tracing Phalke’ to celebrate 100 years of cinema

NFDC releases coffee table book on life of Dadasaheb Phalke; the book contains rare details of the cine genius’ life.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

What better way to celebrate 100 glorious years of Indian cinema than to celebrate the life of the father of Indian cinema? Carrying this idea forward is Tracing Phalke, a book that chronicles the life of Dadasaheb Phalke.

“Celebrating the completion of an action-packed cinematic century of Indian cinema and the genius of Dadasaheb, NFDC (National Film Development Corporation) is pleased to announce the release of the limited edition of Tracing Phalke – researched, written and compiled by Kamal Swaroop, a film, television and radio director and screenwriter, more popularly known for his masterwork Om-Dar-B-Dar (1988),” a release from NFDC said.

The book is a “text-based visual treat that lends a magnified view into Dadasaheb’s life, the iconic coffee table book is an eponymous compilation tracing the life span of the Father of Indian Cinema, with rare details right through his schooling, places he visited, people he met and experiences that lent value to his innate genius and imagination that eventually lead to the birth of Indian Cinema.”

Speaking on the occasion of the release of the book, Swaroop, said, “I am happy that Tracing Phalke will be re-released this year just around the date of Indian Cinema completing a glorious century. And considering that NFDC is a harbinger in fostering and promoting Indian Cinema, associating with them couldn’t have been more apt for this initiative.”

“Tracing Phalke is a very insightful compilation of Dadasaheb Phalke’s life by Kamal Swaroop and we are delighted to present this visual treat for film aficionados and the fraternity in this centenary year of Indian Cinema,” said Vikramjit Roy, General Manager- National Film Development Corporation.

(Pictures courtesy facebook.com, NFDC)

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