Suiting the Indian psyche

With an aim to bring in both mainstream and meaningful cinema, American Corners along with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan had recently organised a two-day film festival, Yellow Frames. The festival had a collection of Indo-American movies with most of them revolving around an Indian protagonist living in America or trying to lead an American lifestyle.

Padma Bhushan awardee B Saroja Devi, along with Dada Saheb Phalke Award winning cinematographer V K Murthy, inaugurated the festival. Saroja Devi felt that the chosen films were sure to reach out to both the young and old, and much to surprise of the audience, V K Murthy delivered maybe the shortest speech delivered by any Dada Saheb Phalke winner. All he said was, “Namaskara to everyone.” Describing a similar situation that had taken place in past, he said since everyone had insisted on him speaking at least a few words, he had left the stage by saying these words.

The first day’s show was kickstarted with American Chai. The Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, N Ramanuja said, “We always showcase films with some social issues that would spread awareness and through Yellow Frames, we have put together a string of American movies that would suit the Indian psyche.”

Explaining how many international projects are being shot in India, Robert Kerr, Acting Public Affairs Officer of US Consulate General said, “After the success of Slumdog Millionaire, a lot of Hollywood projects have been coming with a strong Indian theme.”
“With more than 14 movies planning to be shot in India, the scope for both nations to bond only widens,” he added. While the first day showcased only one movie, the second day comprised an array of movies like Still in Transit by Steve Clack, Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley, Indian Cowboy by Nikhil Kamkolkar and Mississippi Masala by Mira Nair.