Anglo-Indian cinema
Gautam Kaul | Feb 10
We visualise Anglo Indian cinema in India essentially through the presence of actresses who ‘looked’ European. In isolation, there were some ladies who did enter Indian cinema and came to India under various circumstances. Helen Ann Robinson, Helen for all of us, entered India from Burma as a refugee. A few more of them were lucky. Nadia was a circus artist from Australia. Ermaliene came from Hungary. Then, there were the Baghdadi Jewish ladies (whose parents were long settled in India) who were sought after by Indian producers for their daring urban style and ‘Anglo’ looks. Ruby Myers (Sulochana senior) from Pune remained the Queen of the Silent Era for more than a decade and survived through the late 70s of Indian cinema as a poverty-affected artist. In between, ladies like Nadira Ezekiel, Rose (Rose Ezra), Lilian Ezra, Romila (Sofia Abraham), Rachel Sofer, Premila (Esther Victoria Abraham) and Pearl Padamsee filled the screen with their ‘Anglo’ presence…
… The first foreign look in Indian cinema came as early as 1919 when an American lady, Dorothy Kingdom, entered India as a love-struck young lass attached to a wealthy businessman who stayed in South India for about six months and financed the silent era film ‘Shakuntala’ .
Gandhi through films — one man, so many portraits!
Ratnottama Sengupta | Feb 10
Gandhi did not leave a sect behind him. He did not approve of ‘Gandhism’ for he did not claim to have originated any new principle or doctrine. “I have simply tried to apply in my own way the eternal truth of our daily life and problems…” So it is up to you and me to change this narrative.
“New Wave” in cinema of NE India
Manoj Barpujari | Feb 10
The north-eastern part of India has a distinct film identity as any other part of the country or the world outside. So if you coin the phrase “Northeast Cinema” it should point to the quality of the films produced that makes them distinguished from films produced in other parts of the country. There are meaningful films made over last four decades— except Assam where it all started four more decades earlier— in various indigenous languages, braving the onslaught of the Bollywood and, to a lesser extent, Hollywood and East Asian blockbusters…
… A 12 times national award winner Jahnu Barua once declared that he would not make a film in Assam. His outburst came following failure of his films at local box offices despite having won critical acclaims…
… Multiplexes are having their day with all-India releases of Hindi films, but not helping regional films in any way. Promises to help build mini cinema halls with government patronage are not translated into reality.
Tumbbad—coherence and visual appeal
MK Raghavendra | Feb 10
Exquisitely crafted in terms of ambience but we wish it had been more coherent. The problem, I believe is that it mixes genres arbitrarily – without being aware of it. Consider first the primary story meant to be like something out of a Panchatantra tale, with its cautionary moral about human greed. A story with a moral (i.e. a fable) does not conceal information because its primary aim is to deliver its message unhindered. Also, the message is rendered through the principal character being subject to experiences, usually salutary…
… As already acknowledged Tumbbad is visually rich but as theorists (Frederic Jameson) have argued, visual richness is worth little if it is not bolstered by narrative, since only narration gives meaning to the cinematic image.
Talks—book signing, & screenings
CS Venkiteswaran curates and presents Artists' Cinema at Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival | Chennai
Batul Mukhtiar teaches screenplay writing to students of FTII's SKIFT (Skilling India in Film and Television) short courses | Lucknow
Amit Khanna & Javed Akhtar at Osiana series of conversations with Neville Tuli | N. Delhi
Utpal Datta speaks on the 'When Young, Pen One—Literary | Brahmaputra Literary Festival, Guwahati
Saibal Chatterjee, et al speak on a panel at the SRFTI Clapstick International Students Film Festival | Kolkata
Bikas Mishra et al take a screenwriting workshop, "Na Guddi Naa Laadla", for kids | Screenwriters Association India, Mumbai
Aseem Chhabra, et al speak on panel, ‘Eternal Glory and Glamour of Bollywood Stars’ at the Patna Literature Festival | Patna
Siladitya Sen, et al speak at the "Remembering Mrinal Sen" condolence meet followed by a film screening | FFSI (E), Kolkata
Amitava Nag autographs his latest book, "Satyajit Ray's Heroes & Heroines" at the Kolkata International Book fair.
ON A FILMMAKER
Premchand, CS Venkiteswaran, et al., talk on filmmaker John Abraham.
ON FILMS & CRITICISM
Rahul Desai talks on the unreal documentary scene in India.
ON ARCHAEOLOGY
Theodore Baskaran speaks at the Madhurai Archaeology Festival.
INTERVIEW
Amitava Nag interviewed by RJ Roy on Radio One FM channel following the release of his book 'Satyajit Ray's Heroes and Heroines'.
FILM REVIEW
Rahul Desai, et al., review Zoya Akhtar's 'Gully Boy' on Film Companion's Youtube channel, 'Let's Talk Movies'.
FILM RECOMMENDATIONS
Rahul Desai talks about different filmmakers and their filmmaking process, and offers his film recommendations for the week.