18th Annual NEW YORK INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL May 7-12, 2018
REVIEWS
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NYIFF 2018 – Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi to be honored at New York Film Festival
Lavina Melwani
March 25, 2018
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Author Salman Rushdie (left) actor Aahana Kumra and Aroon Shivdasani, Executive Direcotr of IAAC at 17th Annual New York Indian Film Festival red carpet walk
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Lassi with Lavina Guide to Upcoming Events – Cinema, Cinema!
NYIFF 2018 – Sridevi and Shashi Kapoor to be Honored
The folks at the New York Indian Film Festival must be mind readers for they know exactly what you are yearning for – and they are giving it to you! The incomparable Shashi Kapoor, the legendary diva Sridevi, the classic storytellers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory – not to mention dozens of brand new independent films, shorts and docs. So break out the popcorn for some serious movie-hopping.
A Tribute to Sridevi
All the action is happening at IAAC’s 2018 New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) – the country’s oldest and most prestigious film festival for films from the Indian sub-continent. The festival runs from May 7 to May 12 at the Village East Cinema in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
This year marks the 18th year of NYIFF and the 20th year of Indo-American Arts Council so to celebrate this landmark year join in the grand celebrations on board the Cornucopia Majesty Yacht on May 6th. Dance, dine and sail around NYC harbor. Listen to a jazz band while you eat a gourmet dinner and listen to those dynamic speakers – Mira Nair and Salman Rushdie. The next day May 7th is opening night with the first film of the festival and a red carpet and cocktail party before you get into the serious business of endless film watching. NYIFF has lots of panel discussions, Q and A with the filmmakers and after parties so gear up for a movie marathon.
Remembering Shashi Kapoor
For diehard Shashi Kapoor and James Ivory fans there’s a double treat. On May 8th catch Shakespearewallah, the wonderful Merchant-Ivory film set in 1960’s post-colonial India, following a ragtag British theater group which travels the country with Shakespeare’s works in a changing India. The film starred Shashi Kapoor, Madhur Jaffrey and the Kendals – Geoffrey, Carla, Felicity and Jennifer in a story of a fast disappearing India. The film is directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant. The movie is a real treat and is followed by yet another treat, a post-screening discussion with James Ivory and Madhur Jaffrey.
On May 9th fans get to see another Merchant-Ivory gem, ‘Heat and Dust’ which will also be followed by a discussion with James Ivory. The film stars Greta Scacchi, Julie Christie and Shashi Kapoor and envelopes audiences in romantic drama set in colonial times.
Merchant-Ivory’s ‘Autobiography of a Princess
Madhur Jaffrey in ‘Autobiography of a Princess’
As part of the Merchant-Ivory Retrospective, there’s also a screening of ‘Autobiography of a Princess’ which stars Madhur Jaffrey. New York fans are lucky enough to get a Q and A and first hand reminisces from the noted actor and chef herself, looking at these movies through the lens of time and memory.
Autobioraphy of a Princess
Madhur Jaffrey and James Mason
Cinema fans the world over were stunned by the loss of the much loved Sridevi this year and so it will be a time of nostalgia to catch one of her last and finest movies, ‘English Vinglish’ which is written and directed by Gauri Shinde. The film won several best debut director awards for Shinde and was also shortlisted as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards in the Best Language film category. For Sridevi fans this is a not to be missed film which showed her at the top of her form, even after retiring from films for several years.
Ravi Jadhav’s ‘Nude’ – and so much more
These special films are just the icing on the cake at NYIFF as the festival includes a mind boggling bunch of new independent films, documentaries and shorts. The opening night film is US premiere of Ravi Jadhav’s film ‘Nude’ in Marathi with English subtitles. This is followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and cast and an after-party.
“Nude’- the opening night film at NYIFF
Naseeruddin Shah in ‘Nude’
The centerpiece film is Miransha Naik’s Konkoni film ‘Juze’ which is a stunning film about power and powerlessness, about the battle of unequals, between a vulnerable outsider and a tyrannical slum overlord. Says director Miransha Naik, “ Since my childhood, I’ve seen a ‘Juze’ in every village in Goa. These slum landlords abuse their power and exploit the defenseless and unprotected – immigrants often being the most vulnerable.”
The closing night film is the New York premiere of ‘Omerta’ – Hansal Mehta’s biopic on Islamic fundamentalist Omar Saeed Sheikh. Mehta’s films are always provocative and make you think. On closing night, cocktails and the screening lead to a Q and A and the grande finale of the Awards Night. Glamor and glitz – a film-lover’s fantasy.
