ITV

Category: Hindi

  • Indian themes documentaries gain attention at IFFI ’12

    Indian themes documentaries gain attention at IFFI ’12

    MUMBAI: Two documentaries in the World Cinema section portraying Indian themes attracted attention at the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) currently being held in Goa.

    One of the films is ‘Algorithms‘ by Ian McDonald which is a documentary on the thriving but little known world of blind chess in India. It has been filmed over three years from just before the World Junior Blind Chess Championship in Sweden in 2009 to just after the next championship in Greece in 2011. The film follows the lives of three talented boys from different parts of India and a totally blind player turned pioneer who not only aims to put India on a global stage but also wants all blind children to play chess. ‘Algorithms‘ is the first ever feature documentary on blind chess.

    McDonald said at the festival that the documentary is not about teaching or preaching, it‘s not entertainment either. He was motivated by the real life saga of the blind chess players with whom he worked closely to make this film. The purpose of making this documentary is not to whip up emotion or ‘romanticizing‘ blindness. He simply wanted to focus on the dream of a group of blind boys driven by a man with a vision.

    The other film that caught the fancy of attendees is ‘Chitranjali‘. Made by Malgarzata Skiba, who is a member of the Polish Film Makers‘ Association, the film is a documentary on the forgotten story of Polish artist Stefan Norblin(1892-1952). Norblin was a celebrity painter in Poland before World War II and the last court painter of the Maharajas in India. The Polish Art Deco painter influenced by rich cultural background of India created a number of exotic oil paintings, murals and interior designs for his royal clientele. His work, hidden from the world in royal enclosures was recently recognized and restored by Polish conservators. The film brings back to light the fascinating landscape of Art Deco period of Poland and the days of the Maharajas in India. The film celebrates the art and its spirit that prevails over shadows of decadence and tragedy.

  • NFDC Film Bazaar offers platform for film deals

    NFDC Film Bazaar offers platform for film deals

    MUMBAI: The 6th annual Film Bazaar organized by National Film Development Corporation Ltd. (NFDC) concluded with Vipin Vijay (‘Chavunilum, A Voice From Elsewhere‘) and Indranil Roychowdhury (‘Phoring‘) winning awards.

    The Incredible India Award ceremony was attended by Ministry of Tourism secretary Parvez Dewan, NFDC MD Nina Lath Gupta, director Vishal Bhardwaj, film maker Sudhir Mishra, director Ashutosh Gowariker, film maker and screenwriter Dibakar Banerjee, actor Sanjay Suri and film critic Rajeev Masand.

    The four-day film market which was held between 21 to 24 of November at the Marriott Resort, Goa, saw participation of about 750 Delegates from over 32 countries who used this platform to network with producers, filmmakers and distributors from across the world. Film Bazaar also promoted co-productions by facilitating collaborations among potential domestic and international partners.

    During the course of the festival, Mumbai‘s Independent Movies has finalized the financing of Sunrise (Arunoday) following a deal with India‘s Infinitum Productions to increase its funding. Indian production house Sikhya Entertainment and Italy‘s Dugong Production have signed a deal to co-produce the documentary An Indian Kiss based on a concept by Nandana Sen and Franco La Cecla. Tulsea International, a Los Angeles and Mumbai based sales agent and talent management company picked up the international rights of Marathi film Masala, directed by Sandesh Kulkarni and produced by Arbhaat Films.

    Cinemart Rotterdam selected four promising producers Aditi Anand (Little Red Car), Vivek Gomber (Zoo Films), Anusha Rizwi (Third World Films), Nilesh Navlakha (Navlakha) Arts and Holy Basil Combine to attend the Producers‘ Lab held alongside Rotterdam International Film Festival.

    Also, NFDC Film Bazaar‘s new partner; Dubai International Film Festival has selected a co-production Market project, Biscuit Dour (Biscuit Race) by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki for the Dubai Film Market, which is held alongside the Dubai Film Festival.

  • Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    MUMBAI: Hollywood director Ang Lee‘s Life Of Pi did well at the elite multiplexes in metros in its opening weekend collecting Rs 136.5 million.

    Yash Chopra‘s last directorial venture Jab Tak Hai Jaan seems to have made the most of the post Diwali holidays, especially at the multiplexes to complete its ten-day first week with Rs 984.1 million. The collections, however, tapered down from Monday (Rs 53.6 million on Monday and Rs 35.4 million on Thursday). The film collected Rs 113 million in its second weekend as the shows were reduced at most screens.

    Ajay Devgn-starrer Son Of Sardar, which had been deprived of the better patronised single screens, went on to collect Rs 812 million in its first ten-day week.

    1920 – Evil Returns could not sustain in front of two major releases despite Diwali holidays.

    Student Of The Year added about Rs one million in its fifth week to take its total tally to Rs 609 million.

  • Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    MUMBAI: Hollywood director Ang Lee‘s Life Of Pi did well at the elite multiplexes in metros in its opening weekend collecting Rs 136.5 million.

    Yash Chopra‘s last directorial venture Jab Tak Hai Jaan seems to have made the most of the post Diwali holidays, especially at the multiplexes to complete its ten-day first week with Rs 984.1 million. The collections, however, tapered down from Monday (Rs 53.6 million on Monday and Rs 35.4 million on Thursday). The film collected Rs 113 million in its second weekend as the shows were reduced at most screens.

    Ajay Devgn-starrer Son Of Sardar, which had been deprived of the better patronised single screens, went on to collect Rs 812 million in its first ten-day week.

    1920 – Evil Returns could not sustain in front of two major releases despite Diwali holidays.

    Student Of The Year added about Rs one million in its fifth week to take its total tally to Rs 609 million.

  • Narahari Rao elected FIPRESCI India prez

    Narahari Rao elected FIPRESCI India prez

    PANAJI: HN Narahari Rao, veteran film critic and film society activist, has been elected President of the Indian Chapter of FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics.

    MK Raghavendra was elected Secretary at the Annual General Meeting of FIPRESCI India held in Panaji.

    While N Vidyashankar was elected Treasurer, the Executive Committee members are Rafique Baghdadi, Madhu Eravankara, and Premendra Mazumdar.

    The outgoing President, Sudhir Nandgaonkar, was also unanimously named President Emeritus as recognition of his past services to FIPRESCI India.

  • Ragini MMS 2 and Krrish 3 set for Diwali ‘13 release

    Ragini MMS 2 and Krrish 3 set for Diwali ‘13 release

    MUMBAI: Hrithik Roshan-starrer super hero fantasy Krrish 3 will be facing off with the sequel to horror flick Ragini MMS (Ragini MMS 2). Both the films will release on 3 November next year.

    In fact, if posters of the upcoming film kept at the Balaji office are to be believed, the makers have been asking the audiences to "Get laid this coming Diwali."

    Ragini MMS will be the first Diwali release with adult content. The movie stars Sunny Leone who debuted with Jism 2 this year.

    This thwarts the superhero‘s plans to get a solo release next Diwali. When contacted Balaji Motion Pictures CEO Tanuj Garg confirmed the plans but refrained from giving out the release date. "We haven‘t formalised a release date but actively looking at October-November," he said.

  • Muzzafar Ali mulls film on Persian poet Rumi

    Muzzafar Ali mulls film on Persian poet Rumi

    MUMBAI: Muzzafar Ali, known for his films like Umrao Jaan, is currently working on a new project based on great Persian poet Rumi.

    The 68-year-old, also behind other films like Gaman, says that he is awaiting for resources to materialise so that he can begin work on this ambitious project.

    "I am waiting for people with resources to understand my thinking and support my ideas. Sometimes it happens, then it doesn‘t, so there are a lot of ifs and buts. It takes a lot of work to get everyone on the same page," Ali said.

    But before he could hit the floors, the director wants to finish work on his Vinod Khanna-Dimple Kapadia starrer Zooni.

    “Since Zooni is half complete, I want to finish that after which I will start working on the film about ‘Rumi-the poet. Once I have the support, I will think about star cast," he observed.

    Ali was speaking on the sidelines of the 43rd International Film Festival of India where he is being paid a special tribute with his Rekha starrer Umrao Jaan being screened there.

  • India named guest country at next year’s Cannes fest

    India named guest country at next year’s Cannes fest

    MUMBAI: The Cannes film festival has announced that it will invite a large delegation from the Indian Film industry next year to Cannes to celebrate hundred years of Indian Cinema. With this move, India becomes the third ‘Guest Country‘ at Cannes film festival following Egypt in 2011 and Brazil in 2012.

    "Cannes belongs to each and every one of us who contribute towards creating it step by step. We want the festival to be open to new ideas and diversity can only enrich it. I have been attending IFFI for past 4-5 years and it gives me immense pleasure to invite India as the guest country.

    "The Festival de Cannes is delighted to celebrate one of the most important countries in the world of cinema, a country with a prestigious history and tradition, one whose current day and creative impulses are a perennial example of vitality," averred Director of Film Department Cannes Christian Juene.

    Juene is here to attend the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI)and NFDC Film Bazaar.

    The Festival de Cannes will be held from 15 to 26 May, 2013.

  • Goa to build film city within two years: Wagh

    Goa to build film city within two years: Wagh

    PANAJI: Goa is well on its way to building a film city and will be adding at least two multiplexes and a convention centre over the next two years in Panaji which plays host to the International Film Festival of India.

    This was announced by Vishnu Surya Wagh, Chairman of the Kala Academy and Vice Chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa, at the inauguration of the Open Forum at the Festival venue. The Open Forum has been organised by the Federation of Film Societies of India with the Indian Documentaries Producers Association with the cooperation of the IFFI Secretariat and the ESG.

    Referring to local criticism about hosting a Festival at a time when the state was facing an economy crunch, he said there was need to develop cinema as an alternate business which could bring in as much revenue as other businesses did.

    Wagh, who is an MLA, said the state government was in the process of consulting film personalities to shortlist a suitable place for a film city. He said it was unfortunate that filmmakers who came to Goa to shoot often had to bring their own equipment as there was no infrastructure.

    However, he said Goa recently won the Cinemascapes award for the Best Film Destination in India.

    Referring to ESG, he said the Society had been set up to facilitate IFFI to hold the Festival here after the decision to make this the permanent venue.

    IFFI Director Shankar Mohan said the entire world was moving towards digital technology and therefore some films had been screened only at Kala Academy and it was not possible to re-screen them elsewhere. This had been done to prevent theft of copyright and prevent video piracy. He said 60 per cent of the films here were in DCP, which meant that reels were not available and passwords were needed to screen these films.

    He said the Festival this year had seen tremendous vibrancy and a steep jump in the number of delegates. The Open Forum had now moved to a greater purpose and focus. Each section had its own genre, he added.

    IDPA President Mike Pandey welcomed the idea of a film city in Goa and said this would help the growth of better cinema.

    FFSI President Kiran Shantaram and Sudhir Nandgaonkar also spoke at the forum which will be held daily till 29 November at 1.30 pm in the area outside Inox.

  • Life of Pi: A gripping tale finely executed

    Life of Pi: A gripping tale finely executed

    MUMBAI: When Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain) helms a film, the least you can expect from him is a saga with insights and with his newest film Life of Pi, he doesn‘t disappoint. He takes the seemingly impossible-to-film book, written by Yann Martel, and transforms it into a visual delight with 3D and CGI thrown in for good effect. Not since Avatar have these two been used with better results though 3D has since gone on to be a widely used filmmaking tool.

    Life of Pi seeks to encompass a wide array of emotions and situations and succeeds in all of them. The result is a film about finding faith, the triumph of human endeavour, coming of age and childlike delight all seamlessly woven together without missing a beat. And, considering that most of the film has only one boy and a tiger adrift on the Pacific Ocean on a life boat, that is saying a lot. Even the otherwise overused ‘voiceover‘ tool is so well used it becomes unnoticeable.

    It is the story of a young boy, Pi, and his family moving bag and baggage and a hold full of zoo animals from Puducherry to North Amerca on a ship. When the ship sinks in a storm, Pi and a handful of animals are the only survivors. The ménage of animals is gradually reduced to only Richard Parker, the tiger. How Pi manages to tame the wild beast to form an uneasy and easily broken truce, gives the thrust to the film. It is almost impossible to believe that the tiger is largely CG though for some scenes Bengal tigers were used for reference.

    But alone on the ocean, Pi‘s mind wanders and as the director takes you through some of the fantasy he experiences, the viewer gasps in delight at the sheer beauty of the imagination. With the physical and the metaphysical so well blending into each other it‘s almost impossible to tell the difference between the two. Truly, suspension of disbelief was never more rewarding.

    Some debuts are just meant to happen and such is the case with young Pi, Suraj Sharma, who is entirely believable and will be a talent to watch for in the coming years. While Irrfan Khan and Tabu, in short roles are as competent as they are expected to be, Adil Hussain, as Pi‘s father caps his unconventional career with another brilliant performance.

    But, of course, this is Ang Lee‘s film, one of the best directors of contemporary times.