laff2014-interactive - London Asian Film Festival

presents
16th
1 - 14 june 2014
LAFF 2014 HIGHLIGHTS
ANUPAM KHER & PAMELA CHOPRA
NAGESH KUKUNOOR
ASH KING & NAVIN KUNDRA
NADIA MANZOOR & RADHA BEDI
www.tonguesonfire.com
#LAFF2014
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR’s note
This year’s London Asian Film Festival celebrates the shared heritage
of the UK and the Indian subcontinent. The impact on cinema is
how mixing the spirit and essence of both cultures celebrates the
vibrancy of South Asian culture and addresses issues relevant to
contemporary Britain.
We are delighted to welcome acclaimed writer-director Nagesh
Kukunoor and present his hard-hitting drama Lakshmi as our opening
gala film. The closing event also promises to be an exciting affair with
the UK premiere of Sabiha Sumar’s Good Morning Karachi, a highly
anticipated film since her award winning Khamosh Pani.
Yash Chopra’s unexpected demise two years ago caused a rush
of devastating emotions. It’s a huge loss to all who knew and loved
him and everyone who admired him and his work. The celebrated
director’s love for Britain is relevant in his iconic films like Lamhe and
Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Yash-ji leaves behind a unique legacy of visual
aesthetics that continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers. As
a tribute to the Bollywood legend Yash Chopra, we offer a glimpse
into his life through an intimate conversation between Prof. Rachel
Dwyer, his wife Mrs. Pamela Yash Chopra and renowned actor
Anupam Kher at BAFTA.
In addition to our Short Film Competition, we are excited to introduce
a new strand of Digital Commissions this year to continue to
nurture the next generation of talent to create and showcase their
adventurous and imaginative work.
Our line-up explores sensitive themes and issues with unique visions
which would have been untapped without the courage and vision of
independent filmmakers. The festival is featuring Rituparno Ghosh’s
profound work by screening his films Chitrangada, Jeevan Smriti and
The Last Lear.
A special thanks to our army of volunteers and festival friends who
give us their unconditional support to bring the glitz and glamour of
Bollywood and beyond with very limited resources. So come and be a
part of this Bollywood extravaganza, by buying a ticket...
Dr Pushpinder Chowdhry
Festival Director
June 2014
A DREAM COME TRUE
Fly aboard our Dreamliner - the most modern aircraft,
from London to Delhi / Mumbai with quick onward domestic and
international connections.
Enjoy your journey with Air India, winner of the “Airline Of The
Year, 2014” at the Asian Voice Political & Public Life Awards at the
House of Commons, London.
OPENING GALA PREMIERE
LAKSHMI
Sunday 1 June Tricycle 2.30pm Reception
3.00pm Film screening £15 020 7358 1000
Based on true events, Lakshmi is a heartwrenching story about
child trafficking in India. An impoverished 14-year-old girl is
kidnapped from her village in Andra Pradhesh and forced into
prostitution. Her courage and refusal to give up hope eventually
sees her testify in court against her oppressors.
Winner of the Mercedes Benz Audience Award for the
Best Narrative Feature at the 25th annual Palm Springs
International Film Festival.
Acclaimed writer and director Nagesh Kukunoor will open the
European premiere of Lakshmi at London Asian Film Festival.
Followed by a Q&A hosted by Viji Alles, Editor of UK Asian.
Supported by Asian Circle and Oxfam who are working to
eradicate violence against women in South Asia.
For further details contact your travel agent or visit www.airindia.in
Director
Nagesh Kukunoor
Cast
Ram Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, Nagesh Kukunoor, Shefali
Shah, Monali Thakur
India, 104 mins, 2014, Hindi with English subtitles
RITUPARNO GHOSH TRILOGY
young tongues
chitrangada The CROWnING WISH
short film competition
Sunday 1 June 5:45pm ICA £10, £8 020 7930 3647
Saturday 17 May 12.30pm BFI £10
Wednesday 4 June 8.30pm Watermans £8.50
020 8232 1010
A special commemorative trilogy in the memory of acclaimed actor,
writer and director Rituparno Ghosh.
Rituparno Ghosh plays the principal part of choreographer Rudra
who is planning to stage Tagore’s classic opera Chitrangada as he
undergoes a gender change process. The film moves from stage
to hospital settings and from performance to psycho-analysis as
it delves into the painful process of artistic creation before finally
asserting the right to claim one’s own gender.
Winner of the Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards,
Chitrangada is topical in the light of the Supreme Court of India
ruling that grants recognition to third gender/transgender identity.
Presented by Sangeeta Dutta. Followed with a Q&A
In association with In Focus Film Society.
Director
Rituparno Ghosh
Cast
Deepankar De, Anjan Dutt, Rituparno Ghosh, Raima Sen,
Jishu Sengupta
India, 135 min, English/Bengali with English subtitles
Now in its ninth successful year, the short film
competition gives the next generation of talented
filmmakers a chance to showcase their work. The
Tongues on Fire Short Film Award is our way of
inspiring new filmmakers. The selected short films are:
Beneath the Surface by Jody-Lan Castle
A Summer Flu by Priyanka Chhabra
Mount Song by Shambhavi Kaul
The Art of Defining Me by Seeta Patel
Ika(Feather) by Raam Reddy
Prisoners of Moon by Tushar Waghela
Shameless by Geeta Malik
The Death Row by Maryam Ebrahimi
JURY
Radha Bedi, Samir Bhamra, Noel Goodwin, Nagesh
Kukunoor, Balvinder Mudan
BFI SCREENING on 17 MAY INCLUDES
•
Production Design masterclass and workshop
with industry experts
•
Future Film Raw Shorts screening
director’s MASTER
CLASS
A master class with one of India’s most
respected film-makers Mr Nagesh
Kukunoor who entered the Indian film
industry 15 years ago and blazed a new
path with the Indie film genre.
Nagesh has written, produced, acted
& directed immensely successful and
acclaimed films. His very first film broke
the traditional barrier of both commercial
and art cinema. Nagesh has consistently
crafted stories that depict realism and
authenticity over glossy sheen to deliver
to audiences a brand of cinema that is
entertaining with a difference.
special gala celebration
remembering yash chopra
Saturday 7 June 7.30pm BAFTA £100
BOOK ONLINE www.tonguesonfire.com
Pamela Chopra, collaborator and wife of the late Yash Chopra
is “in connversation” with Prof. Rachel Dwyer, an authority on
the work of the legendary director and author of an official and
comprehensive biography.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who appeared in a string of Yash
Chopra productions, including such famous films as Darr, Dilwale
Dulhania Le Jayenge, Lamhe and Veer Zaara, will share his
professional perspective on the director.
Remembering Yash Chopra includes a world premiere of a
documenary short film The Master Stroke by award winning
filmmaker Vinky Singh. The film delves into Yash Chopra’s use of
the Navarasa, the nine essential emotional themes that are the
fundamental building blocks of Indian art in the unforgettable and
timeless music that became the cornerstone of his films.
The evening promises a unique and unprecedented insight into
the two most important aspects of Yash Chopra’s life: his cinema
and his family.
In association with Pratham
screening
SCREENING
DOCUMENTARY
tamanna
honeycombe lodge
DOUBLE BILL
Sunday 8 June 3.00pm Tricycle £8.50 020 7328 1000
Monday 9 June 6.00pm Birkbeck
University FREE
Tuesday 10 June 6.00pm University of
Westminster Harrow Campus £10
BOOK ONLINE www.tonguesonfire.com
Struggling young actor Riz Ahmed meets Mian Tariq Ali, a relic of
the once thriving Pakistani film industry, to convince him to divorce
his wife. A contest of male dominance begins between the two
men, starting quite reasonably, playfully even, but turns violent in
the end. Inspired by the play Sleuth.
Regarded as Pakistan’s first noir film, Tamanna features original
music by British composer and musician Arthur Rathbone Pullen
with songs composed by Sahir Ali Bagga and sung by Rahat Fateh
Ali Khan, Ali Azmat and Amanat Ali.
Followed with a Q&A with Sarah Tareen (producer), Mujtaba
Kazmi (co-producer) and Karen David (actor).
Director
Steven Moore
Cast
Feryal Gauhar , Mehreen Rahel, Omair Rana, Salman Shahid
Pakistan, 83min, 2014, Urdu with English subtitles
A captivating narrative of six British Women
who attempt to reclaim their lives from
injustice and violence. Their Individual quests
become a shared pilgrimage, as they find
each other in a rudimentary women’s refuge
Honeycomb Lodge.
Followed by a Q&A with Lesley Manning,
Mfy Hopkins, Surendra Kochar, Krupa
Pattani, Sohm Kapila and Ambur Khan.
Director
Lesley Manning
Cast
Shabana Bakhsh, Sohm Kapila,
Ambur Khan, Surendra Kochar,
Bharti Patel, Krupa Pattani,
Shanaya Rafaat, Tilly Vosburgh,
Chloe Wade
UK, 93 mins, 2014
india: a dangerous
PLACE TO BE A WOMAN
Radha Bedi travels to India to discover what
life is really like for women in the country in
light of the recent violence.
Followed by a Q&A with Radha Bedi
The Paradox of
Freedom
Nadia Manzoor shares her struggle as a
Pakistani Muslim growing up in the West.
The event includes a trailer of an interview
with Deepak Chopra, followed by a segment
on Irshad Manji’s web series Moral Courage
and a Q&A with Nadia Manzoor.
In association with Ekta
exhibition
RITUPARNO GHOSH TRILOGY
idream
jeevan smriti
Wednesday 11 June 6.00pm
Nehru Centre FREE
Wednesday 11 June 6.30pm
Nehru Centre FREE
Ben-azeera Lela, Hitz Rao, Devesh Sodha
and Louis Vella collaborate to create a
visual arts exhibition that is inspired by the
Elizabethan era and fuses the dreams of
young civilians today by connecting them
to historical civil liberty campaigners like
Mahatma Gandhi.
As part of our Rituparno Ghosh tribute
events, this is a special screening of his last
completed film.
Seven dream-like photographs and digital
projections of faces form this bleak yet
optimistic exhibition.
Both events support the Project 400
Indo-British Heritage Trust.
Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture to
mark the 150th anniversary of Tagore, the
film follows child Tagore emerging into a
young poet, later growing to be one of the
most significant voices in colonial India and in
international literature.
Introduced by Sangeeta Dutta, writer,
filmmaker and associate of Rituparno
Ghosh.
Director
Rituparno Ghosh
Cast
Samadarshi Dutta, Sanjoy Nag,
Raima Sen
India, 2013, 78 mins, Bengali with English subtitles
The film screening is in association
with In Focus Film Society.
concert
BOLLYWOOD BRASS
BAND
Thursday 12 June 7.45pm Purcell Room,
Queen Elizabeth Hall £16 020 7960 4200
Equator presents the Bollywood Brass Band
who perform hits from the golden age of
Bollywood and beyond in celebration of 100
years of Indian cinema.
Funky drummers and a six-piece horn section
take you on a musical journey through Indian
cinema, accompanied by video projections
from the best-loved Bollywood blockbusters.
Enjoy music and visuals from hit movies such
as Devdas, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and
Dhoom, as well as new music to accompany
the films of Dadasaheb Phalke, India’s first
home-grown film maker.
...a Jack-in-the-Box-like bundle of
cavorting musicians intent on blasting the
genre into the 21st century
The Independent
RITUPARNO GHOSH TRILOGY
the last lear
Friday 13 June 8.30pm Watermans £8.50
020 8232 1010
The screening is part of the tribute
strand for acclaimed director Rituparno
Ghosh. The story revolves around Harish
Mishra (Amitabh Bachchan) a retired
Shakespearean theatre actor. He is
immensely passionate about Shakespeare,
believes that nothing comparable can ever be
written. As the story unfolds one gets to know
his relationship with Vandana (Shefali Shetty)
the reason behind his quitting theatre and
last but not least the reason for his illness.
Followed by a Q&A
In association with In Focus Film
society. Supporting Bright Futures
Director
Rituparno Ghosh
Cast
Amitabh Bachchan, Divya Dutta,
Shahbaaz Khan, Arjun Rampal, Jishu
Sengupta, Shefali Shetty, Preity Zinta
India, 130 min, English/Hindi with English subtitles
young tongues
director’s MASTER
CLASS
Friday 13 June 6.00pm University of
Westminster Marylebone Campus FREE
BOOK ONLINE www.tonguesonfire.com
Director and screen writer Ashim
Ahluwalia’s award-winning films include
Miss Lovely (2012) and John & Jane
(2006). He discusses filmmaking with
Ranjani Mazumdar (Jawaharlal Nehru
University, Delhi; Marie Curie Fellow,
University of Westminster).
SCREENING
CLOSING gALA SCREENING
miss lovely
GOOD MORNING KARACHI
Friday 13 June 6.30pm University of
Westminster Marylebone Campus FREE
BOOK ONLINE www.tonguesonfire.com
Saturday 14 June 6.00pm Mayfair Hotel £30
Set in the criminal depths of Mumbai’s C-grade
(horror and porn film) industry, the story of the
Duggal brothers who produce sleazy sex-horror
films in the mid-1980s. The plot explores the
intense and mutually destructive relationship
between younger sibling Sonu Duggal, played
by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and his elder brother,
Vicky (Anil George). Sonu finds himself drawn
to a mysterious young woman named Pinky
(Niharika Singh) eventually leading to his
downfall.
This event takes place in association with
the conference hosted by University of
Westminster in collaboration with the Sage
journal BioScope: South Asian Screen
Studies.
The story of a young woman trying to find her place in the fashion and
beauty industry in Karachi. Rafina’s work in the up-market salon and
her life in a lower middle class colony come together to form a revealing
microcosm of modern Pakistani society. Going beyond the clichéd
settings of an Islamised Pakistan, the film enters the rarely seen world of
Muslim high society.
Followed by a Q&A with Atta Yaqub conducted by Bhawani
Shankar.
With drinks reception followed by screening
Tradition in Modernity exhibition by Atria Gallery.
Director
Sabiha Sumar
Director
Ashim Ahluwalia
Cast
Amna Ilyas, Atta Yaqub, Beo Raana Zafar
Cast
Zeena Bhatia, Anil George, Menaka
Lalwani, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Niharika
Singh
Pakistani, 83min, Urdu with English subtitles
India, 110 mins, Hindi with English subtitles
A BOLLYWOOD MOVIE WITH SWEET, SALTED
AND GARAM MASALA POPCORN
RESERVE
RESERVE YOUR
YOUR MAY
MAY FAIR
FAIR AFFAIR
AFFAIR AT
AT themayfairhotel.co.uk
themayfairhotel.co.uk
Proud
Proud to
to be
be the
the official
official hotel
hotel of
of the
the 16th
16th asian
asian london
london film
film festival
festival
LONDON ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL GALLERY
London Asian Film Festival full of
glitz and glamour from Bollywood
and beyond. Just take a look at
who has been bringing stars, style
and substance to the festival from
our archives!
All due to the immense support
and enthusiasm we receive
from great film makers, fantastic
celebrities and passionate film
buffs.
young tongues
DIGITAL COMMISSIONS
COMING SOON
Tongues on Fire commissioned five emerging
artists to collaborate with digital film makers
to create new digital work for London Asian
Film Festival looking at shared experiences,
heritage and talent of UK and South Asian
artists. This new strand is our way of
supporting and nurturing a new generation of
talent. The five commissions are:
ALONE TOGETHER by Phil Poppy
In a fleeting moment at a railway station a young
Asian business woman and a scruffy young urbanite
make a connection. In the next moment they lose
sight of each other. The screen splits and we follow
two journeys in dance as they try desperately to find
each other lost in the labyrinth of the metropolis.
Alone Together fuses a stunning mixture of Kathak
and street dance choreographed by Melody Squire
set against an intoxicating music track by Tala
Quintet.
LITTLE NEPAL by Asmita Shrish
An short observational film piece following a group
of old Gurkha soldiers (65-85 years) once known
for their bravery medals are now known for walking
and wandering in sideways of street of Aldershot.
One aspect of the film shows medals and histories of
these soldiers, the other show rhythm of life through
their daily activities thus immerging the concept of
bravery medals of Gurkha uncles and melodies of
aunties.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS by Nidhi Gupta and
Kawita Sareen
london asian film festival team
Festival Director
Dr. Pushpinder Chowdhry
What would happen to an English woman who not
only believed in past lives, but could describe her
own specific past life? Most likely be sent to see a
psychiatrist. And as she attempts to convince said
psychiatrist of her sanity, what if she remembers her
own death, in an alleyway in the 1980’s, as a South
Asian male…
Finance Director
Sharnjit Bhalla
Strategic Director
Rupal Patel
Business Development Officer
Ashish Parmar
Creative Director
Sâmir Bhamra
Festival Coordinator
Rahila Farhan Fateh
THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET by
Ashish Ghadiali
Festival Assistants
Suki Lotay, Payal Seth
Short film Co-ordinator
Balvinder Mudan
Pakistani Arts Co-ordinator
Yasmin Qureshi
Social media and PR
Poonam Joshi, Painted Brown
Website
Error Creative Studio
Festival Founders
Dr. Pushpinder Chowdhry, Mrs Harvinder Nath
Advisory Board Members
Ajay Chowdhury, Mark Jones, Anna Macdonald,
Balvinder Mudan, Roddy Mullin and Navin Shah
Patrons
Abhishek Bachchan, Prof. Rachel Dwyer, Saira
Kazmi, Rohini Lalvani, Lord Diljit Rana, Sunita Sangar
and Meera Syal
Why do Asians so rarely feel free to enjoy the English
countryside? That was the question that drove a
group of Kashmiri Mancunians, all in their 50s and
60s, to lead a collective exploration mission into the
beauty spots of the Peak District and the Yorkshire
Dales. The Ground Beneath our Feet is a short
portrait of these humble pioneers, of the obstacles
they have worked to overcome and the pleasures that
make the effort worth the while.
BIN MEN by Hamza Jeetooa and B. Spencer
Evoy
A bin man’s job is a dirty one; there’s no room to let
emotions get in the way. They’ve seen some things
that would render the average person a sobbing
wreck and remained unmoved. Today, however, they
finally find something they can’t handle: a teddy bear
in a rubbish bin.
venues
an immersive experience inspired by the novel
umrao jaan ada by mirza hadi ruswa
BAFTA
195 Piccadilly, W1J 9LN
Box office: contact Tongues on Fire
www.bafta.org
SOUTHBANK CENTRE
Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Tel: 020 7960 4200
www.southbankcentre.org.uk
BFI SOUTHBANK
National Film Theatre
Belvedere Road, South Bank SE1 8XT
Box office: 020 7928 3232
www.bfi.org.uk
THE TRICYCLE
269 Kilburn High Rd, NW6 7JR
Box office: 020 7328 1000
www.tricycle.co.uk
birkbeck university
Malet St, WC1E 7HX
Tel: 020 7631 6000
www.bbk.ac.uk
university of westminster
• HARROW Watford Rd, HA1 3TP
• mARYLEBONE 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS
Tel: 020 7911 5000
www.westminster.ac.uk
THE MAY FAIR HOTEL
Stratton Street, Mayfair W1J 8LT
Tel: 0207 493 0244
www.themayfairhotel.co.uk
Watermans
40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS
Tel: 020 8232 1010
www.watermans.org.uk
THE NEHRU CENTRE
8 South Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 1HF
Tel: 020 7491 3567
www.nehrucentre.org.uk
tongues on fire
Tel: 020 8961 8908
www.tonguesonfire.com
SPONSORS
London Asian Film Festival would not be possible
without the invaluable support from its sponsors,
advisors and friends. Tongues on Fire is a not for
profit company run by a small team of dedicated
people and we are grateful for their input.
Special thanks to: Chanchal Singh Chowdhry,
Baithak/In Focus Film Society, Planman Motion
Pictures for the Rituparno Ghosh trilogy, Saba
Syed, Tongues on Fire friends Jane Savory,
Keith Iddins, Judith West, Sangeeta Bahadur.
Phizzical in association with
embrace arts present
the
For further information on
how you can support Tongues
on Fire and the 17th London
Asian Film Festival please
email [email protected]
or callWelcome
020 8961
8908.
to Air India
nautch Girl
The airline that treats you like a Maharaja
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
THU 11 - FRI 12 DECEMBER & FRI 19 - SAT 20 DECEMBER 2014, 8PM
£12, £10, £5
EMBRACE ARTS lancaster road, le1 7ha
0116 252 2455 RNID Typetalk service: 18001 0116 252 2455
www.embracearts.co.uk
LONDON ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2014
Date
Event
Time
Venue
Ticket £
17 May
SHORT FILM COMPETITION
FUTURE RAW SHORTS
12.30
BFI
£10
1 June
opening gala screening
lakshmi
2.30pm
Tricycle
£15
chitrangada: THE
CROWNING WISH
5.45pm
ICA
£10, £8
short film competition
8.30pm
Watermans
£8.50
4 June
master class with nagesh
kukonoor
Watermans
7 June
remembering yash chopra
7.30pm
BAFTA
£100
8 June
tamanna
3.00pm
Tricycle
£8.50
9 June
HONEYCOMB LODGE
6.00pm
Birkbeck University
FREE
10 June
DOUBLE BILL
india: a dangerous place
to be a woman
THE PARADOX OF FREEDOM
6.00pm
University of
Westminster Harrow
Campus
£10
11 June
EXHIBITION
iDREAM
6.00pm
Nehru Centre
FREE
jeevan smriti
6.30pm
Nehru Centre
FREE
12 June
BOLLYWOOD BRASS BAND
7.45pm
Southbank Centre
£16
13 June
MASTER CLASS WITH ASHIM
AHLUWALIA
6.00pm
University of
Westminster
Marylebone Campus
FREE
MISS LOVELY
6.30pm
University of
Westminster
Marylebone Campus
FREE
THE LAST LEAR
8.30pm
Watermans
£8.50
EXHIBITION
TRADITION IN MODERNITY
6.00pm
The Mayfair Hotel
CLOSING gala screening
GOOD MORNING KARACHI
6.00pm
The Mayfair Hotel
14 June
Twitter: @tonguesonfireUK #LAFF2014
Facebook: londonasianfilmfestival
London Asian Film Festival is produced and presented
by Tongues on Fire Limited © 2014. All rights reserved.
£30
TONGUES ON FIRE
Westbury House
23-25 Bridge Street
Pinner
Middlesex HA5 3HR
Tel: 020 8961 8908
www.tonguesonfire.com
Due to circumstances beyond our control, screening times, titles and speakers may change. Please check with
Tongues on Fire prior to booking. All tickets are subject to availability and early booking is recommended.