ZEAL FOR UNITY PRESENTS PAKISTAN DOUBLE BILL JALALER GOLPO (JALAL’S STORY) KHAEMAE MEIN MATT JHANKAIN JEEWAN HATHI (ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM) Bangla with English subtitles | Bangladesh 2014 | Dir. (DON’T PEEK INTO THE TENT) Abu Shahed Emon | with: Mohammod Emon, Arafat Rahman, Mosharraf Karim. Punjabi / Urdu with English subtitles | Pakistan / India Urdu with English subtitles | Pakistan / India 2016 | Dirs. 2016 | Dir. Shahbaz Sumar | with: Sara Haider, Meenu Gaur, Farjad Nabi | with: Naseeruddin Shah, Hina 121 min Zia Khan, Mahtab Murad. Dilpazeer, Samiya Mumtaz. 45 min 60 min London Indian F ilm Festival This entrancing film follows three chapters in the life of an infant, a child and teen named Jalal. Made under the Zeal for Unity India-Pakistan filmmaking initiative, these films explore different facets Abandoned as a baby in the river, he is rescued of life in Pakistan. In Khaemae Mein Matt Jhankain, life in a remote village becomes exciting when and raised by Miraj. After a series of misfortunes, a travelling circus pitches up in town. The men and boys of the village cannot get enough of the the villagers consider the baby to be a curse on ravishingly beautiful trapeze artist and visit every night to catch a glimpse of her. But, there is a secret. their village and Miraj has to abandon the baby Acclaimed Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah headlines Jeewan Hathi as a channel owner who will do back in the river. Karim, a landowner, is bringing anything for higher ratings. This riotously funny satire on Pakistan’s media industry explores the dark up Jalal, now nine. Bizarrely, Jalal is considered underbelly of a reality show that has the nation enthralled. the cause of Karim’s wife’s infertility and he is cast back into the river. The 19-year-old Jalal now works for a gang leader and aspiring politician Sajib. This time, a different baby is to be thrown into the river, ahead of the upcoming elections, thanks to Sajib’s nefarious antics. Abu Shahed Supported by: Emon tackles several social issues in Bangladesh including superstition, politically motivated d corruption and women’s rights. 15 - 24 JULY 2016 e Parch Special guests expected. A SUMMER OF NEW INDEPENDENT INDIAN FILMS IN BIRMINGHAM Supported by DESIblitz.com: 14 - 24 JULY 2016 21 JULY | 19:00 | CINEWORLD BROAD STREET 22 JULY | 18:30 | CINEWORLD BROAD STREET A SUMMER OF NEW INDEPENDENT INDIAN FILMS Image from the film MOH MAYA MONEY (IN GREED WE TRUST) RINGAN (THE QUEST) KALPANA (IMAGINATION) SPONSORS Hindi with English subtitles | India 2015 | Dir. Munish Marathi with English subtitles | India 2015 | Dir. Hindi with English subtitles | India 1948 | Dir. Uday Title Sponsor: Bhardwaj | with: Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Makarand Mane | with: Shashank Shende, Saahil Shankar | with: Uday Shankar, Lakshmi Kanta, Usha Devendra Chauhan. Joshi, Suhas Sirsat, Kalyanee Mulay. Kiran, Amala Shankar. 108 min 105 min UK PREMIERE OF RESTORED VERSION 160 min Major Sponsor: In this fast-paced slice of Delhi noir, a crooked real This moving father and son drama is set against Drama filmed as a ballet and based on Uday estate broker who dreams of riches, embezzles the backdrop of farmer suicides in the drought- Shankar’s own experiences as he set up the money from the firm he works for and gets stricken state of Maharashtra. Arjun, the father Almora dance centre in the Himalayas. Shankar involved in a series of scams. But the proceeds of develops suicidal tendencies due to debts caused wrote, directed, and starred in this drama which his schemes are not enough for his greed and when by drought. But his love and concern for his unfolds with a writer’s hope of selling an idea he finds out about a huge deal in his company, stubborn son, Abhimanyu, motivates him to for a film. As he is explaining it to the producer, he passes it on to a small-time real estate broker earn the money needed to buy back his ancestral the scenes from his movie come alive as well as and a thug, for a bigger piece of the pie. Soon, he land. He reluctantly takes his son with him when passages from his own life. Reality and the surreal gets involved in a major crime along with his wife. he leaves the village in search of work. They are combined throughout the story which makes Matters spiral out of control, leading to murder, travel across the state and reach the holy town a passionate plea for Indian film makers to take mayhem and an out of left field twist of a climax. of Pandharpur, where Arjun finds work and on new cinematic challenges. Legal Partner: Official Bollywood stars Ranvir Shorey (star of Cannes Abhimanyu goes in obsessive search of his mother, Restaurant Golden Camera nominated Titli) and Neha Dhupia who has been told, has gone to the Abode of Restored in 2008 by The Film Foundation’s World Sponsor: (Singh is King) are on terrific form in this cracking God, which is Pandharpur. The film is a touching, Cinema Project at Cineteca di Bologna /L’Immagine thriller that will leave you gasping for breath. stirring story of unbridled paternal love and Ritrovata in association with the family of Uday fighting against trying circumstances to overcome Shankar, the National Film Archive of India and PARTNERS MEDIA PARTNERS the odds. It is also a clarion call to that greatest of Dungarpur Films. Restoration funding provided human emotions – hope. by Doha Film Institute. Supported by DESIblitz.com: Q&A with Tanusree Shankar. Supported by Sampad: Covered By: 22 JULY | 20:30 | CINEWORLD BROAD STREET 23 JULY | 18:00 | MAC CINEMA CANNON HILL PARK 24 JULY | 14:00 | MAC CINEMA CANNON HILL PARK WELCOME PARCHED TOBA TEK SINGH NAANU AVANALLA AVALU (I AM NOT HE…SHE) KAMAL HAASAN - SCREEN TALK BRAHMAN NAMAN Europe’s largest South Asian film festival returns Hindi with English subtitles | India 2015 | Dir. Leena Hindi / Punjabi with English subtitles | India Kannada with English subtitles | India 2014 | Dir. B S (EVENT TO BE CONFIRMED) English | UK / India 2016 | Dir. Q. | with: Shashank for a second time to Birmingham bringing you a Yadav | with: Radhika Apte, Tannishtha Chatterjee, 2016 | Dir. Ketan Mehta | with: Pankaj Kapur, Lingadevaru | with: Sanchari Vijay, Sharada Nani, Arora, Tanmay Dhanania, Chaitanya Varad. carefully curated selection of the very best new Surveen Chawla, Lehar Khan. Vinay Pathak. Kunal Punekar. Indian and South Asian independent cinema, which includes feature films and documentaries OPENING NIGHT 117 min CLOSING NIGHT 75 min 115 min 95 min by both acclaimed and new filmmakers. The films screened are in a wide range of South Asian languages to reflect the linguistic diversity of Birmingham’s Indian and South Asian communities and all films are subtitled in English. We promise that whatever movie you decide to attend, you will be entertained, informed and Join us for a rare on-stage interview with one of perhaps even a little shocked! India’s greatest film personalities. A President’s Medal for his first screen performance at the age of Enjoy the festival! four heralded his arrival as a child prodigy. From that Director Leena Yadav’s tells a wonderfully joyous Acclaimed director Ketan Mehta delivers this Based on an empowering true story, Madesha moment, a remarkable and distinguished career Festival favourite director ‘Q’ (Gandu, Tasher Desh) and inspiring tale of comradery. Three ordinary unforgettably moving and at times joyous version is a fearless young boy from rural Karnataka spanning more than fifty years and over 200 films in returns with this In-Betweeners style coming-of- Cary Rajinder Sawhney women live in a desert Gujarati village, weighed of Manto’s legendary story, produced by the Zeal who cherishes his female persona and gorgeous six Indian languages, has cemented Kamal Haasan’s age comedy backed by a rock anthem score. Set Executive & Programming Director down by centuries of tradition. Rani (Tannishtha for Unity project. Award-winning actor Pankaj saris. His sister enjoys his natural flamboyance unique standing in the Indian film firmament. An in 1980s Bangalore, know-it all teenager Naman Chatterjee) lost her husband at 16 and struggles Kapur gives a career defining performance as and zest for life, but his father is ashamed of actor, director, producer, writer, singer, dancer/ (Shashank Arora), and his fellow nerdy mates Ajay to bring up her teenage son, careful to follow Bishen Singh, a Sikh inmate of a mental institution, him and throws him out. Madesha picks himself choreographer and lyricist par excellence, Haasan and Ramu win every local quiz competition and For more information go to: every village rule. Her friend Lajjo (Radhika who hasn’t slept for 15 years and always asks the up and sets out on a journey that will change his stands as a true Indian icon whose legions of get hammered on the prize money. Then their big Apte) is always brimming with positivity, but same question “Where is Toba Tek Singh?”, the life forever as he decides to become a woman. fans and admirers have obliterated all barriers of chance comes as the All-India Quiz Final in Calcutta www.londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk fears beatings from her drunken husband. Bijli is name of his home village. The new warden, played In big-city Bangalore he seeks the support of language, community and creed from between is announced. The three quiz musketeers set out also Rani’s friend, she’s a local performer, but her by Vinay Pathak, takes delight in Bishen and the local queens and the Hijra community (Eunuchs themselves. He has spearheaded the early on a chaotic train ride north, but on the journey youth is coming to an end.