Hindi
Deepti Naval alters lingo of film
MUMBAI: In a first-of-its-kind incidence, an actor has altered the language of a film.
Deepti Naval, who, was playing a pivotal role in the Bengali film Memories In March managed to turn it into one in Hindi, all because her Bengali pronunciation was coming in the way of the offbeat film.
The film, set in Kolkata, has Naval playing a bereaved mother who, after her son‘s sudden death, discovers his alternative sex life. Director-turned-actor Rituparno Ghosh plays her dead son‘s gay lover.
Everything was going smooth until Naval arrived on location and when she started her dialogue delivery in Bengali, it not only displeased the director; it hurt her too.
“The Bengali language proved to be more problematic than I thought it would be. I thought my performance would suffer if I kept focusing on the lines. Sanjoy and Ritu suggested that we do the film in Hindi,” Naval has been quoted as saying.
Stuck with a linguistic deadlock, director Nag and scriptwriter writer Ghosh took a flash decision after which Memories In March turned out to be the first film in the history of Indian cinema to change the language for the sake of its leading lady.
Naval comes back to screen after eight years. She last appeared in the 2003 film Freaky Chakra.
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
