16th Annual NEW YORK INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL May 7 - 14, 2016
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Closing Night Film: Aligarh
Skirball Center for Performing Arts, LaGuardia Place @ Washington Square, NYC.
5-6 pm
Red carpet & Cocktail party
6:00-7:30 pm
Screening of Hansal Mehta's ALIGARH (Hindi w/English subtitles)
7:30-8:00 pm
Post-screening discussion with Director Hansal Mehta and Actors Manoj Bajpai & Rajkumar Rao
8:00-8:40 pm
Award Ceremony
Rosenthal Pavilion, Kimmel Center, Penthouse(above the Skirball Center), NYC
8:45 pm
Gala Closing Night Party, Rosenthal Pavilion, Kimmel Center, NYC.
Gala tickets:$150; $75 IAAC members: includes red carpet, cocktail party, screening of Harsal Mehta's Aligarh, post-screening discussion with the Director and cast, Award Ceremony, Gala Afterparty with filmmakers and celebrities.
Screening tickets:$75; $50 IAAC members: includes red carpet, cocktail party, screening of Harsal Mehta's Aligarh, post-screening discussion with the Director and cast, Award Ceremony.
Closing Night Film: Aligarh- New York Premiere Directed by Hansal Mehta
India 2016, 120 mins Hindi (w/English subtitles)
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkumar Rao
Synopsis: Aligarh is a 2015 Hindi movie based on the real life incident of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation. Siras was the professor of Marathi at the Aligarh Muslim University. After successfully appealing his suspension, he died under suspicious circumstances. Manoj Bajpai plays the role of Siras, and Rajkummar Rao plays a journalist.
Set in a city of Uttar Pradesh and based on true events, the plot revolves around Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras who taught Marathi at Aligarh Muslim University. He was sacked from his position of Reader and Chair of Modern Indian Languages, on charges of homosexuality. A sting operation was conducted by a TV channel which showed him in an embrace with a rickshaw puller, at his house inside the campus.
Aligarh had its world premiere at the 20th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea in October 2015. The film received a standing ovation.
About the Director: Hansal Mehta is an Indian film director, writer, actor and producer. Mehta started his career in television with his show Khana Khazana (1993-2000) and later moved onto movies like Jayate (1999) and Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar (2000).
He is best known for Shahid for which he won the 2013 National Film Award for Best Direction, and the much acclaimed CityLights (2014).
Video: Aligarh Official Trailer with English Subtitle | Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao
