The biggest cinema industry in the world, Bollywood has taken the world by storm, yet many film enthusiasts believe that the potential of regional films are untapped. Hence ICC plans to showcase three of such gems in the next two days.
Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Goutam Ghose’s Paar, Yatra and Moner Manush will be screened at Kumari Cinema Hall on January 31 and February 1. Praised by the critics and loved by the audiences, all of the three movies are considered Ghose’s finest to date. The director himself will be present during the screenings.
Cinema Workshop on February 2 at Hotel Shangri-La, Lazimpat aims to highlight the importance of cinema as an art form and its impact on the society. The workshop from 2 to 5 pm is expected to draw film students, journalists, film critics, professor and alumni of FTII, Pune.
This event is free and open to all. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. Collect free movie passes from the office of Indian Cultural Centre, Bal Mandir, Naxal (January 27, 28 and 29). Tel: 4412715
PAAR
Screening date: January 31, Monday, 1 pm
Synopsis: Paar (“The Crossing “) is a 1984 Hindi movie directed by Goutam Ghose. The film stars Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri. Naseeruddin Shah won a Volpi Cup for his role as Naurangia. The film is based on the issue of exploitation in rural Bihar. A landlord (Utpal Dutt)’s men wreck a village and kill the benevolent schoolmaster (Anil Chatterjee) who is in progressive force. The laborer Naurangia (Naseeruddin Shah) breaks with a tradition to passive resistance and retaliates by killing the landlord’s brother. Naurangia and his wife Rama (Shabana Azmi) become fugitives from justice. After many efforts to find sustenance elsewhere, the two decide to return home. To earn the fare, they agree to drive the herd of pigs through the river, causing the pregnant Rama to believe she has lost her baby. But they have to swim across a wide, swiftly flowing river, in which they nearly drown before reaching safety.
YATRA
Screening date: January 31, Monday , 5 pm
Synopsis:Yatra (Journey) stars Rekha, Nana Patekar and Deepti Naval. Dasrath Joglekar (Nana Patekar), a celebrated writer, travels to Delhi to receive the prestigious Literary Award. During the journey he meets a young film maker (Nakul Vaid), an ardent fan of Dasrath’s writing and the encounter brings back memories from the past. Both of them travel back in time, remembering characters from Dasrath’s celebrated novel Janaza, reconstructing the true story of the novel’s protagonist – Lajvanti (Rekha) from their own perspective. Fact and fiction merge together to create a new journey.
Memories from the past and passion bring him to Mehendi galli where people flock to enjoy mujra dances. The entire area has changed. Lajvanti alias Lajobai has become Miss Lisa, presenting popular film songs numbers to entertain a new clientele. Dasarath’s sudden appearance is a great surprise for Lajvanti. The character of his novel Janaza comes alive at an unexpected juncture.
MONER MANUSH
Screening date: February1, Tuesday, 5 pm
Synopsis: Moner Manush is a Bengali feature film based on the life and philosophy of Fakir Lalan Shah, a noted spiritual leader, poet and folk singer of Bengal in the 19th century. Directed by Goutam Ghose, the film has Prosenjit as the lead actor portraying the character of Lalan Fakir.Paoli Dam plays the character of Komli, the key female disciple of Lalan.
Rabindranath Tagore’s elder brother Jyotirindranath Tagore, a Western educated bright young man from the 19th century Bengal met the octogenarian Lalan Fakir and drew a portrait of the poet saint in the former houseboat afloat on the river Padma. Jyotirindranath, an urban intellectual exchange views with the man of native wisdom. Their exchange of ideas forms the cinematic narrative of this film. The narrative is a saga of the life and time of Lalan Fakir and his liberal sect who lived a life of high order in an otherwise superstitious 19th century Indian society.
(All films will be screened at Kumari Cinema Hall)
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