FILM CLUB SCREENING - Freedom As Metaphor Films celebrating the triumph of the human spirit. Manthan (The Churning) (Hindi/1976/134mins) Dir.Shyam Benegal Cast: Smita Patil, Girish Karnad, Naseeruddin Shah, Amrish Puri. The film is set amidst the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood) which started in 1970, ushering an era of plenty, from a measly amount of milk production and distribution. Aside from the great measurable success that this project was, it also demonstrated the power of "collective might". The film revolves around Dr. Rao’s efforts to set up a dairy cooperative in a village, which upsets not just the middlemen, who were hitherto exploiting the villagers, but also the age-old feudal structure of the village. Soon an uprising is sparked among the local untouchables, which leads to an economic revolution as well. Manthan went on to win the 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Vijay Tendulkar, and was also Indian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for 1976. Collab: Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. & Directorate of Film Festivals

FILM CLUB SCREENING - Freedom As Metaphor Films celebrating the triumph of the human spirit. Mirch Masala (Hindi/1985/128mins) Dir.Ketan Mehta. Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Om Puri, Suresh Oberoi, Deepti Naval, Mohan Gokhale  Set in a small village during the time of the Raj, Mirch Masala is the story of one woman's fight to keep her honor when threatened by a powerful tax inspector. The inspector, who sees his manliness at stake after he is turned down by the woman, Sonbai, promises to destroy the village if she does not come to him. In the director’s own words, the film cuts across social lines. The metaphor of spice symbolizes the fiery strength of a woman and above all of a human being, against all forms of oppression. The film portrays the feisty and fiery, uncompromising and strong willed woman who fights to save her dignity against all odds. Collab: National Film Development Corporation Ltd. & Directorate of Film Festivals

FILM CLUB SCREENING - Freedom As Metaphor Films celebrating the triumph of the human spirit. Saaz (Hindi/1998/148mins) Dir.Sai Paranjpye. Cast: Shabana Azmi, Aruna Irani, Zakir Hussain Set in the musical backdrop of the Bollywood playback singing world, Saaz presents a tale of two sisters, Mansi and Bansi- two individuals who love each other but cannot overcome their individual desires to leave a greater mark on the world after death, and become 'immortal'. These are two siblings who are very real. They care deeply for each other, but are also capable of unknowingly inflicting a lot of pain on one another. The film traces how the younger sibling Bansi slowly regains her identity. Collab: Reliance Entertainment & National Film Archives of India

FILM CLUB SCREENING - Freedom As Metaphor Films celebrating the triumph of the human spirit. Lakshya (Hindi/2004/187mins) Dir.Farhan Akhtar. Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, Boman Irani As Lieutenant Karan Shergill reminisces about his journey towards becoming a soldier, the director convincingly explores the confused state of mind his protagonist was in. Karan impulsively joins the Indian Army, but its rigidity proves too strong for this rich, spoilt lad. An egotistical conflict with his father and a shamed rejection by his girlfriend catapults him back into the military academy, and his lakshya is born - to prove himself by becoming an officer. A film about an individual coming into his own. Collab: Excel Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

FILM - Festival of Emerging Cinemas. Baha (Sadri/Nagpuri/2009/112mins) Dir.Shriprakash A young tribal man dreams of becoming a singer against the backdrop of the Jharkhand music industry. Collab: International Association Of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)

FILM - Festival of Emerging Cinemas. Malegaon Ke Sholay (Hindi/1999/150mins) Dir.Shaikh Nasir An innovative and delightful reworking of the Bollywood classic Sholay Collab: International Association Of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)

FILM - Festival of Emerging Cinemas. Presentation on Music Videos from Uttarakhand by Journalist/Musician Himanshu Joshi The Lament Of Niyamraja (Kondh/2007/13mins) Dir. Suryashankar Dash The song of a mountain is sold to a mining company by the government. It is sung by a bard of the Dongaria Kondh adivasi community who consider the mountain sacred and who are aghast at the commercialization of their rituals. Gadi Lohardaga Mail (Nagpuri/2006/27mins) Dirs.Meghnath & Biju Toppo A musical journey intertwining the pathos of the peoples’ struggle for survival and the end of a narrow gauge train between Ranchi and Lohardaga.Sona Gahi Pinjara (Kurukhi/2006/20mins) Dir.Biju Toppo A musical short fiction film about how people from tribal communities are unable to attend their festivals back home because the official set up does not recognise them.Collab: International Association Of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)

FILM - Festival of Emerging Cinemas. Tokskal (Ladhaki/2004/80mins) Dir.Jigmet Omachik A historical costume drama based on a traditional Ladhaki tale exploring truth and love. Collab: International Association Of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)

FILM - Festival of Emerging Cinemas. The Sun Is Still Not Setting (Manipuri/2010/27mins) Dir.Suvas Elangbam A poignant film that captures the simplicity and gentleness in the life of a little girl living with her grandfather in the backdrop of strife torn Imphal.

Brief Companion In A Capital City (Manipuri/2009/65mins) Dir.Dorendra Waribam A deeply personal exploration of the city of Delhi through the eyes of an ‘outsider’. Collab: International Association Of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)

FILM CLUB SCREENING - Freedom As Metaphor Films celebrating the triumph of the human spirit. Iqbal (Hindi/2006/132mins) Dir.Nagesh Kukunoor. Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Shreyas Talpade, Shweta Prasad, Yatin Karyekar Iqbal, the deaf and mute son of a farmer, has a passion for the game of cricket and seeks the tutelage of a washed-up, alcoholic ex-player. Cricket being his religion, he aspires to join the Indian cricket team some day. However, Iqbal faces obstacles at every step. His father dislikes cricket, he lacks means or financial help to undergo training, and is faced with a tricky rival coach. An 18-yr old underdog who faces roadblocks at every step, but bounces back each time with a true to life never-say-die spirit! Collab: Mukta Arts & Directorate of Film Festivals

FILM CLUB SCREENING - Freedom As Metaphor Films celebrating the triumph of the human spirit. 68 Pages (Hindi/2007/92mins) Dir.Sridhar Rangayan. Cast: Moulli Ganguly, Joy Sengupta, Jayati Bhatia, Zafar Karachiwala, Uday Sonawane Coming from a country like India that is still in denial, where being HIV+ is still a curse, 68 Pages rips open the underbelly of its society to reveal how it stigmatizes and shuns those who are HIV+ or even those who just want to be what they are. Through 68 pages of a counselors diary, we see the stories of Paayal, a sex worker; Nishit, an ID user; Kiran, a gay man and Umrao, a transsexual bar dancer - their stories of pain and fear, humiliation and rejection - not only by the society, but even by their loved ones. While these stories expose the shallowness of the system, it also offers hope and healing by trying to bring about a better understanding of their fight to live with dignity. The film is a tribute to the human spirit of optimism and survival. Collab: Kriti Film Club

FILM CLUB DISCUSSION - Group meets to discuss Naya Daur (Hindi/1957/173mins) Dir.B. R. Chopra The film is set in post-independence India at the onset of Industrialization. The focus is on Tangawallahs who earn their living transporting people from place to place on Tangas (horse-carts). Their livelihood is threatened when the son of a rich landlord begins operating a bus service in the town, which he subsidizes heavily with the sole intention of first, driving the Tangawallahs out of the town and then making profits. A race between the 2 modes of transport is then proposed to decide which service is the best - Bus or the Tanga? Research scholar Prakash K. Ray will introduce the film and facilitate the discussion reflecting on the relevance of Naya Daur in today’s day and age, especially as it addresses issues pertinent to today’s times- man v/s machine and the triumph of the human spirit.

FILM CLUB SCREENING - Freedom As Metaphor Films celebrating the triumph of the human spirit. Wake Up Sid (Hindi/2009/138mins) Dir.Ayan Mukerji Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma The film takes place in contemporary Bombay and tells the story of spoiled, careless rich-kid, Sid Mehra, a college student who is taught the meaning of life by Aisha, an aspiring writer from Calcutta. An arrogant, spoiled brat, it takes his girlfriend’s rejection, exam results, a confrontation with his parents, and a break with his friends to wake up Sid! Collab: UTV Motion Pictures & Directorate of Film Festivals

FILM CLUB SCREENING - Short Film Festival. A showcasing of critically acclaimed short films from across the world Collab: Shamiana