Indian Film Festival of LA 2011

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Sunday, 10 April 2011 05:00

Written by L E Shannon

The 9th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) runs April 12 - 17, 2011 at the ArcLight Hollywood Theater in Hollywood, California. This year’s Festival showcases its line up with 13 feature films, 6 documentaries and 13 short films, including world premieres and US premieres.

"We are extremely proud of this year's program. This year's selections were selected not only for their great storytelling, but because each reflects the creativity, color, pace, and surprises that truly represent Indian culture and cinema," said Christina Marouda, the festival's Executive Director.

Kicking off the festival is the Los Angeles premiere of I Am Kalam, directed by Nila Madhab Panda. A young boy struggles to get an education over seemingly insurmountable odds. With Gulshan Grover, Harsh Mayar, Hussan Saad, Beatrice Ordeix, Meena Mir. The film's star Gulshan Grover (Payback, Breaking Waves) in attendance.

This marks the director's feature film debut after having directed over 60 short films. It is also India's first feature film to be produced by a development organization. The film is inspired by India's former President Abdul J Kalam as well as by Panda's own childhood experiences.  

The Closing Night film is the world premiere screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ family action-adventure Zokkomon, written by Satyajit Bhatkal, who makes his directorial debut. In this live action adventure, an ordinary boy finds the strength to face extraordinary challenges. With Darsheel Safary, Anupam Kher, Manjiri Phadnis (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na). The multi-award-winning actor Anupam Kher will be attending the screening.

Other Features include:

World Premieres:

I Am…
dir. Onir
The film paints a compelling portrait of modern Indian society through four short stories about individuals struggling to find their identities in an increasingly complex world. With Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Nandita Das, Rahul Bose.
Big In Bollywood
dir. Kenny Mehan, Bill Bowles
The documentary of an actor's path from striking out in Hollywood to hitting it big in Bollywood.

US Premieres:

An Unfinished Letter / Iti Mrinalini
dir. Aparna Sen
The story of Mrinalini, an aging star, and her lifetime of successes, struggles, agonies and ecstasies. Screen icon Sen and her real-life daughter Konkona Sen Sharma team up to play Mrinalini at different ages throughout her life.

Virgin Goat / Laadli Laila
dir. Murali Nair
For farmer Kalyan Singh who has lost most of his ancestral land and livestock, salvation may be found in the last remaining goat in his possession, his beloved Laila. With Raghubir Yadav, Shiela Naidu, Saurab Gharipurikar, Purnima Maudgil, Archana Phadke.

Los Angeles Premieres:

Features:

I Am
dir. Sonali Gulati
How does a parent respond when a child tells them they are gay in a country where homosexuality is illegal?

That Girl In Yellow Boots
dir. Anurag Kashyap
A young British woman struggles to scrape by in the gritty underbelly of Mumbai as she searches for her estranged father.

Troublemaker
dir. Geeta Malik
A young woman is a quarter of a century old and feels a life crisis coming on, so she decides to search for her father.

Documentaries:

Ganesh Boy Wonder
dir. Srinivas Krishna
Ganesh, a young boy who looks like the elephant-headed god he is named after, yearns to be able to live the normal life he dreams.

Pink Chaddis
dir. Sweta Vohra
When conservative groups use violence and shame to intimidate modern Indian youth, feminists and other activists respond with their own campaign of humor and defiance.

The Bengali Detective
dir. Phil Cox
Fraud, murder, and dance are just part of the day for Rajesh and his Always Detective Agency.

Pink Saris
dir. Kim Longinotto
Sampat Pal Devia and her Pink Gang take their fight for women's rights to the streets once case at a time.

Bollywood By Night series:

Mumbai Diaries / Dhobi Ghat
dir. Kiran Rao
The intersecting stories of four very different people in Mumbai. With Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra.

The Wedding Planner / Band Bajaa Baaraat
dir. Maneesh Sharma (directorial debut)
Two graduates from the University of Delhi reluctantly enter the business world together by creating a wedding planning enterprise. With Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Alok Kumar, Manu Rishi.

The Robot / Endhiran
dir. S. Shankar
The sci-fi fantasy is about a droid that can dance, sing, fight, is water and fire resistant. He can do all that a human can and more. But he also cannot understand human emotions until his creator upgrades Chitti’s processor and simulates human emotions without realizing the repercussions. Chitti can now feel, and the first feeling that he discovers is Love. Will this love come in the way of Dr. Vasi’s purpose of creating Chitti? Will Dr. Vasi’s own creation destroy him? With Aishwarya Rai, Rajnikanth, Danny Denzongpa, Santhanam, Karunasi.

Also screening are two programs of short films.

For more information, visit www.indianfilmfestival.org.

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, honoring entertainment industry business executives and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora.

Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)
April 12 - 17, 2011

ArcLight Hollywood
6360 W. Sunset Blvd (between Vine and Ivar)
Hollywood, CA

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