2011 New York Indian Film Festival [MIAAC] May 4-8: Rishi, Neetu, Konkona, more

[Darshana]

http://www.iaac.us/NYIFF2011/opening_celebration.htm

This festival used to be in the fall, now it will be in May.  It's the oldest of the Indian film festivals in New York and reliably has well-selected movies and virtually no last-minute schedule changes.   I personally feel quite attached to it at this point as this was the first place I found a way into getting to know the world of Indian movies and the people in it - in particular I remember making a rash-seeming last-minute decision some years ago to buy an expensive ticket to an event at which Dimple Kapadia was scheduled to appear in person.  No regrets.

So far opening, closing, and centerpiece films have been announced, and they almost always have their directors and major cast members present - so I think we are looking at a chance to see Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, in Do Dooni Char, as well as Rituparno Ghosh with Nuokidubi, and  Konkona Sen Sharma, and her mom, Aparna Sen, for a screening of Aparna's Iti Mrinalini with a cast that includes Rajat Kapoor.

Always a lot of parties and things too that come with your tickets, and well-known Indian-American New Yorkers, like Mira Nair, Madhur Jaffrey, and Salman Rushdie always turn up and make their presence known.  I also see that Richard Allen, of the NYU graduate film studies program, will again do some hosting of post-screening Q-and-As.  And I am hoping for some great panel discussions, which MIAAC -- it has a new name now -- has put on in the past.

If you know anything or have a comment about any of the movies listed -- they've just started posting the program -- I hope you'll post.  Generally speaking this festival is often where I find great non-Bollywood and "disapora" movies. 

[etu]

Thanks for posting about this, Darshana.

I wonder if Konkona will be able to make it since she just had a baby boy a couple of weeks ago. I'd be equally as happy to see Rajat Kapoor in person again, in her place. :-)

[Darshana]

I think he should be there too.  I just put her in the header because she has maybe a bigger following here!! and who knows who else will be on the ticket.  And - how nice about the baby - I didn't know that.

[Darshana]

Wow, big lack of interest in this one this year it seems!!!  my fault?  maybe!!

They just added something new to the program for Saturday, a screening of Chintu ji (2007)with Rishi Kapoor in it.  Here's a review by Jai Arjun Singh - he writes the blog Jabberwock and is a respected writer in India - he liked it, and then I am pretty sure Rishi will be there, as he is in NY for the opening night tonight, Do Dooni Chaar, which just didn't grab me enough for me to change my work schedule or buy an expensive ticket.

http://jaiarjun.blogspot.com/2009/09/on-chintu-ji-and-q-with-ranjit-kapoor.html   Chintu-ji review

Also on program I am hugely looking forward to The Bengali Detective, which has been liked at other festivals.  It's a documentary about a private detective in Calcutta, where interestingly these people now do the kind of word done by the police in places where police arr not corrupt; and the detective and his men also are involved in entering some kind of Bollywood dancing competition.     

http://www.nativevoicefilms.com/nv/?page_id=246   page for Bengali Detective, includes reviews and some nice clips.

There are two movies that are stories about older women, and as that is me I am very interested:

Aparna Sen's Iti Mrinalini,   ["An unfihished lLetter"]about an aging film star reviewing her life and its love stories - Aparna and Konkona are in it, Aparna directed and will be here   http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/an-unfinished-letter-iti-mrinalini-179447;

and then  Meherjaan, starring Jaya Bachchan, with VICTOR BANNERJEE -  - !! - in a story about a woman who loved an enemy soldier in her youth, and receives a visit 38 years later from a woman with a connection to that time and place.   http://www.iaac.us/nyiff2011/meherjaan.htm     check out the trailer, I think it looks nice.

And then - on Sunday - Sound of Heaven - the Story of Bal Gandharva - musical, historical, Marathi (they are the best, really!!) -- dramatization of true story of a man who played women's roles in traditional Indian theatre in the 20th century.  Rituparno Ghosh also made a movie about him I think.  http://www.iaac.us/nyiff2011/SoundOfHeaven.htm

[Darshana]

I'm adding one more, Noukadubi, Rituparno Ghosh's new movie of a Tagore story - the title means shipwreck.  Here is the beautiful trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXBHnbzhCYA

[Darshana]

A learned analysis of Meherjaan, beginning with an excellent dismissal of "criticism" that complains that it doesn't represent the official story of things;  movie now not sounding so good.   http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=171091

[JKMerengue]

So, how was the event itself, Darshana.  Give us a report.  I'm sorry I couldn't go, but I'm actually employed for a change and couldn't have gotten up there, even if I had known about it beforehand.  Got to remember to check in here more often. :-)

[Darshana]

I'll post some comments soon!! Bollyspice was nice enough to get me into an event or two so I want to finish writing something for them first.

I can give this news since you asked, here is what I saw:

1 Iti Mrinalini - Aparna Sen's new movie about an aging actress, who thinks of ending her life.  Konkona plays the actress in her younger days.

2 The Bengali Detective, a documentary about a real detective in Calcutta, made by a nice young British director.  In India, people now hire detectives to do what the police are supposed to do, but don't do.  This particular man - who was there at the festival too! - is wonderful, wise, and moving.  He and his men do Bollywood dance routines as exercise too.

3 Bal Gandharva an ambitious and rare historical drama, i.e. a non-doc about a real person -- Marathi, about a renowned singer in the Marathi musical theater which preceded film as popular or popular-ish entertainment.  This singer - that name means "heavenly sounds" or something - played a woman always.

4  Nouka Dubi, Rituparno Ghosh's new film from a Tagore story.