Magical world of Indian cinema unspooled

For cinebuffs it is the biggest treat of the year.  Internationally acclaimed films, popular regional films and non-feature films that have won the National Film Awards this year will be screened at a four-day festival at Siri Fort Auditorium.

On Sunday, June 29, the festival commenced with the feature film Astu and a non-feature film Chidya Udh. Thereafter, an array of films were screened in different auditoriums. The day began with the Malayalam film Kanyaka followed by Dharman, Crossing Bridges, The Lost Behrupiya, winner of Best Arts and Cultural Film, Liar’s Dice and Tuhya Dharma Koncha. On the same day, two very popular Hindi feature films Madras Cafe and Anand Gandhis’s Ship of Theseus were also screened.

As these films were being shown in auditorium two, there were films like Baga Beach (Best Konkani film), Jolly LLB (Best Hindi film and Best Supporting Actor, Fandry (Best Debut film and Best Child Artiste), Shahid (Best Actor and Best Direction) and Malayalam Swapanam was screened in auditorium three.

Meanwhile, best regional films were also shown on the first day which included December 1 (Best Kannada film), Bhakita Byakitgato (Best Bengali Film), Naa Bangaaru Talli (Best Telugu Film), Aajcha Diwas Majha (Best Marathi Film) and Thanga Meengal (Best Tamil Film).

But those who missed all these films, have nothing to regret as July 1 and 2, some of the internationally critically acclaimed films will be screened. If you are fond of non-feature films, then do check out auditorium two. At 9 am Kankee O Saapo, winner of Best Narrative and Voice Over, Thalaimuraigal and Best film on National Integration will be presented. Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely, which is receiving accolades globally will be screened  at 11.30 am after the 23-minutes long Chasing the Rainbow.

Likewise popular Marathi film Yellow will be shown after Mandrake Mandrake from 2.15 pm onwards. Kashmiri film Tamaash and Assamese film Ajeyo will be screened at 5 pm. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag will be the last film of the day at 7.45 pm.

Simultaneously, auditorium two will screen Best Children’s Film Kaphal, Khasi film Ri, Jal, The Coffin Maker (Best English Film) and Bengali Jaatishwar. Gulabi Gang, Vallinam, Prakruti and North 24 Kaadham.

The last day of the festival (July 2) will have films like The Last Adieu, At the Cross Roads: Nondon Bagchi Life and Living, Rangbhoomi, Ananthamurthy...Not a Biography...But a hypothesis and Katiyabbaz which will be screened in auditorium two whereas short non-feature films like Heyro Party, Foresting Life, Candles In the Wind, Kush, O Friend This Waiting!, The Pad Piper, Accesex, The Quantum Indians and Yugadrashta will be shown in auditorium three.

Gulabi Gang, Vallinam, Prakruti and North 24 Kaadham will be screened in auditorium four.