Hindi
Indian filmfest in The Hague to show films from SAARC countries
NEW DELHI: More than 25 films and documentaries are to be screened during the eight days of the Indian Film Festival at Filmhuis Den Haag and Theater Dakota in the Hague.
The programme will go beyond the classic Bollywood films, stir debate and present a realistic picture of today’s India in all of its colour and diversity. The festival audience will have a wide choice of contemporary film by a number of independent directors from India and the diaspora.
The Festival being held for the fourth time will take place from 22 to 29 October includes the screening of the 3D version of the classic ‘Sholay’ directed by Ramesh Sippy. The Indian Film Festival The Hague is part of Holland India Festivals The Hague.
Highlights of the festival include the opening film ‘Traces of Sandalwood’ by Maria Ripoll on 22 October. The film set in Mumbai and Barcelona recently won the Audience Award during the Montreal World Film Festival 2014.
Other highlights include the documentary ‘Without Shepherds’ as well as the dramas ‘With You, Without You’ (Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka) and ‘Vara: A Blessing’, the short animation ‘True Love Story’ and the documentary ‘Tropical Amsterdam’.
The festival will also feature visits by Indian film directors and producers.
The photography exhibition ‘Bhopal: Facing 30’ by Francesca Moore portrays the site of the 1984 Bhopal disaster and those affected 30 years on. The expo can be seen in the Filmhuis.
Other side events include a ‘Cinemas of India’ seminar at Leiden University, a panel discussion on the cinemas of India, a lecture for children on tigers (in Dutch), an India Dance Festival film programme, a cooking class and a yoga workshop. There will be a workshop for children on animation during the Festival.
These films originate from various regions in India, each with their own language and culture. The Festival this year will also have some films from the neighbouring countries Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as films that are set in both India and Europe.
A number of these films reflect on the lives of women who manage to break through the traditional barriers that restrict them in many ways. Another film shows the brave efforts of the young Dalits – the ‘Untouchables’ – who no longer accept their inferior position in society.
The festival this year will expand to film theatres in Amstelveen, Eindhoven, Hertogenbosch and Utrecht. This makes it possible for more people to marvel at the beauty of Indian cinema. Different kinds of multiple screening passes make it possible for film lovers to enjoy as many films as possible.
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
