London Indian Film Festival

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Two Weeks of Alternative Indian Films at Watermans

     

Watermans are delighted to be a partner of the second edition of the London INDIAN Film Festival (LIFF), that celebrates the burgeoning movement of alternative Indian cinema, and runs from 30 June – 12 July across London venues. LIFF brings together a selection of cutting edge films that challenge, shock, generate debate and present a more realistic view of India today in all its colour and diversity. 

 Watermans will be presenting screenings and UK premieres from 2 -10 July that will introduce UK audiences to some of India’s hottest independent talent, with stories covering a range of themes from family dramas; satire, terrorism, rural and pastoral idylls; poverty; getting old and sexual liberty.

A sense of a new assured Indian cool pervades the films which experiment with cinematic styles, new technology and a myriad of influences contributing to its popularity among the younger crowds within India’s metropolitan cities. India is the largest film producing country in the world making some 1,000 films a year, outstripping Hollywood. But apart from mainstream Bollywood, very few of these films are seen in the UK.

 Highlights at Watermans include a special screening of Rang Rasiya (Colours of Passion) on Saturday 2 July 18:30 by director, Ketan Mehta that pays homage to the revolutionary painter, Raja Ravi Varma whose paintings in the 1890s influenced modern Indian art and cinema. Verma, like his modern counterpart, M.F Husain found himself feeling the ire of religious fundamentalists who dragged him into the courts to be tried for blasphemy for depicting lifelike images of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director and cast.

 One of Kolkata’s top directors Rituparno Ghosh changes sides of the camera to appear in the UK Premiere of debutant director, Sanjoy Nag’s film, Memories in March on Thursday 7 July 18:30 that connects us with the life of Aarti (played by Deepti Naval), a middle aged woman who goes to Kolkata to pick up her deceased son’s belongings, only to learn about his world and find that she didn’t really know him at all. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the lead actor, Ghosh.

 A definite family favourite is another UK premiere, The White Elephant on Sunday 3 July at 16:00 is a warm-hearted tale about a ceremonial elephant who is worshipped by a village in Kerala. Each year, the elephant chooses which villager will look after him. But elephants are high maintenance!  Much to everyone’s surprise the wily giant taps the local drunk on the shoulder with his trunk.  The drunk and his family are beside themselves but the elephant god must be obeyed.

 Winner of an Indian National Award, The Way Home on July 3 at 18:30, sensitively explores fears of terrorism and nationhood in the modern state of India. A young doctor (played by Kerala star, Prithviraj) accedes to a dying woman’s request that he will agree to re-unite her son with his father. He agrees not realising that the father is in fact the leader of an Indian Jihadi terrorist group.

London INDIAN Film Festival continues to develop Watermans commitment to showcasing cinema from across the globe. For more information on LIFF visit www.londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk

 

June 27, 2011