NEW YORK
Shonali Bose’s “Margarita With a Straw” will open the 15th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) at the
Paris Theater May 4. The film, starring Kalki Koechlin,
Revathi and Sayani Gupta, tells the story of a rebellious
young woman with cerebral palsy, who leaves her home in
India to study in New York, unexpectedly falls in love and
embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.
This year’s festival, to be held in various venues across
the city, from May 4 to 9 will showcase 30 films for its
annual showcase of ground-breaking, thought-provoking,
independent cinema.
Aparna Sen’s “Saari Raat,” will be the festival’s
centerpiece film. Based on a play in three acts by the
legendary Bengali playwright and theatre personality Badal
Sircar, the film is Sen’s tribute to Badal, who passed away
in 2011. The film stars Anjan Dutt, Rittwik Chakraborty and
Konkona Sen Sharma.
Special screenings and events during the festival include
Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespeare trilogy of “Maqbool”, “Omkara”
and “Haider,” followed by a discussion between Bhardwaj and
a Shakespearean expert; “Daughters of Mother India” – winner
of the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues –
Non-Narrative – a documentary film focused on the aftermath
of the Delhi rape incident, given India’s ban on the
broadcast of the rape documentary “India’s Daughter”;
“Bengal’s New Cinema,” a documentary on Shyam Benegal’s
films, followed by a discussion with Benegal about the New
Cinema Movement; South Asian Film Lab; One-minute cell phone
films by NYU students; and a 72 Hour Shootout w/Asian
American Film Lab.
Other films to be screened are “Elizabeth Ekadashi” (National
Award Winner for Best Children’s Film), “Meet the
Patels”, “Miss India America”, “Yeh Hai Bakrapur” and
“Kakka Muttai” (National Award Winner for Best
Children’s Film and Best Child Artist).
The closing night film will be announced April 15. |
