Bringing back the nostalgic memories of the era when families flocked to packed theatres to enjoy evergreen Indian classics, the Indian Film Festival with films like ‘Awaara’, ‘Sangam’ and ‘Abhimaan’ will be held at the National Film Corperation (NFC) auditorium, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo – 07 from February 18 to 24.
Jointly organized by the High Commission of India in association with the NFC, together with the old classics the festival includes some of the modern Bollywood movies which had box office records.
The line up of film in the festival are ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ at 2.30 pm, and ‘Awara’ at 6 pm on Feb 19, ‘Abhimaan’ and ‘Aag’ on Feb 20 at 2.30 pm and 6 pm, ‘Sangam’ at 5.30 pm on Feb 21, ‘Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai’ at 5.30 on Feb 22, ‘Parineeta’ at 5.30 pm on Feb 23 and ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ at 5.30 pm on Feb 24.
The festival officially kicks off on February 18 with the screening of multi-awarded entertaining movie ‘3 Idiots’ which is by invitation.
Directed by Prakash Mehra ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ starring Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Rakhi and Amjed Khan is a story of an orphan (Sikander) who was blessed with the friendship of little daughter (Kamna) of the owner but was thrown out of the house on flimsy charges. The boy learns the lessons of the life in a hard way and becomes a successful man.
‘Awara’ directed by Raj Kapoor is a powerful social comment on the despair of 50’s youth, is regarded as an epic landmark in the history of Hindi Cinema, and a testimony of the famous Raj Kapoor -Nargis chemistry on screen.
‘Abhimaan’ of which songs are still popular among the Sri Lankan audience is directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri and Asrani. It is the story of Subeer Kumar (Amitabh) who is well on his way to becoming India’s top pop singer.
‘Aag’ directed by Raj Kapoor and starring Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Kamini Kaushal and Prem Nath is the story of Kewal (Raj Kapoor) who reluctantly accepts his father’s insistence to enroll for a law course and continue the family tradition by becoming a successful lawyer. However, as his passion is in starting his own theatre company, he deliberately fails in law exams and is thrown out of the house.
‘Sangam’ directed by Raj Kapoor and starring Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala is story of Sunder Khanna (Raj Kapoor), a poor orphan who is the best friend of rich Gopal Verma (Rajendra Kumar) and a wealthy girl Radha (Vjjayanthimala). The trio grow up together and Sunder falls head-over-heels in love with Radha, but she as well as her parents reject him.
‘Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai’ directed by Radhu Karmakar and starring Raj Kapoor, Padmini and Pran is the story of Raju (Raj Kappor), a poor orphan who makes a living by singing songs in Central India. One day he comes to the assistance of an injured man, and before he knows it, he is abducted and held by a band of bandits, who believe that he is an undercover policeman. The man he assisted is none other than Sardar(Pran), the band leader, who treats him like a honoured guest, and eventually his daughter, Kammo (Padmini) and Raju fall in love with each other.
Representing the modern Indian cinema ‘Parineeta’ directed by Pradeep Sarkar and starring Vidya Balan, Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt will be shown. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s poetic prose in celluloid, the film set Circa 1962- the city of Calcutta and it tells the story of a young girl Lolita (Vidya Balan), orphaned at an early age who is sent to live with her Uncle’s family where destiny introduces her to a young boy Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan).
‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ directed by Sooraj R. Barjatya and starring Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan, Karishma Kapoor, Sonali Bendre, Mohnish Behl and Tabu is a family drama that extols the virtues of the joint family system and offers the joys of togetherness.
Entrance for the festival is on free passes issued at Indian Cultural Centre, 16/2 Gregory’s Road, Colombo-07 and National Film Corporation, 303, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo – 07.
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