Category Archives: Other Language Films

Assamese, Other Language Films

Assamese film Village Rockstars is India’s official entry to the Oscars 2019

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National Award winning Assamese feature, Village Rockstars is India’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language category at the Oscars.

The award-winning film will be released on 28th September 2018 in Assam through Kamakhya Films and in metros cities through VKAAO, a joint venture of PVR Pictures and Bookmyshow

The director-cinematographer-editor-producer Rima Das says, “I have been waiting for this day and praying! Luckily, I got this news in my village at Chhayagaon, Assam (I arrived last night) I am glad that I am with my family and the cast of the film. Otherwise, a news like this, if you are alone in some far off land, could put you off the balance! Although I have been jumping around uncontrollably and creating all sorts of a nuisance.  I still can’t believe that our film is India’s Oscar entry. I am pinching myself, screaming shouting with joy”

She adds, “We are totally overwhelmed by the announcement that Village Rockstars is India’s official entry to Oscar this year. I am so grateful to the selection committee for believing in our film”

Village Rockstars is the story of Dhunu, a girl who grows up in poverty and learns to fend for herself. However, that does not prevent her from following her dream of forming a rock band and owning a guitar someday. Most of the cast members of the film are non-actors including Rima Das’ niece Bhanita who plays Dhunu and the other kids who hail from Das’ native village in Assam.

The film which had it’s World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and India Premiere at Mumbai Film Festival 2018 has screened in more than 70 prestigious international and national film festivals and won 44 awards including 4 National Awards (Best Feature, Best Editing, Audiography and Child Artist)

It was an official selection at Film Bazaar Recommends (at NFDC Film Bazaar 2016), 2017 Marche du Film (Cannes) Work-In-Progress, San Sebastian International Film Festival 2017

The selection committee of the Film Federation of India, one of the country’s major trade bodies, announced the decision on Saturday after watching 29 entries. The 12-member committee was headed by Kannada producer and director Rajendra Babu, and held its deliberations in Mumbai.

29 films including Raazi, Padmaavat, Hichki, October, Love Sonia, Gulabjaam, Mahanati, Pihu, Kadvi Hawa, Bhogda, Revaa, Bioscopewala, Manto, 102 Not out, Padman, Bhayanakam, Ajji, Nude, Gali Guliiyan were submitted as nominations.

Until now only three films have made it till the last round and were, as a result, nominated in the foreign language film category – Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! (1988), and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan (2001).

The 91st Academy Awards is scheduled to be held on February 24, 2019.

Long Synopsis

Dhunu a 10 years old girl lives in a remote village in Assam, India amidst raging deprivation. She is a free spirit and her mother, a widower, who struggles daily to bring food to the table and raise her children. However, that does not prevent her from having unrealistic dreams like owning a guitar for her tiny band of village Rockstars boys. Dhunu is a girl who considers herself as capable as boys her age. She and the gangs of boys want to form a rock band. But later the boys slowly stop perusing their dream, whereas Dhunu continues dreaming to own a guitar. Her faith becomes strong when she reads about the law of attraction in a newspaper article. Her unconventional and nonconformist mother raises her with steadfast determination, giving her full freedom of expression and encouraging her to fulfill her dreams. After her father’s death, her mother taking all the responsibilities realizes that it is important that a girl should be qualified herself.

But beyond the poverty of her living, attacks nature’s fury as her village is flooded and worse than that: the societal restrictions that assail her from the day she reaches puberty. Can Dhunu achieve her simple dream or will she, like hundreds of millions of girls in her situation across the world, have to give up on it!

Bhojpuri, Other Language Films

Kishan Rai injured during the shoot

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Actor Kishan Rai was injured during the shoot of CHAMPION in Mumbai. The mishap happened when he was shooting with Ravi Kishan. He was taken to doctor immediately for treatment. As per doctor Kishan had ligament tear and hence have to undergo operation.

Kishan is playing brother of Ravi Kishan in the film. Now because of injury the shoot will delay.

Kishan Rai rose to fame with album Vaada and then he was seen another album Dil Le Gayil Savarki which was also hit.

Gujarati, Other Language Films

Censor board member in all praises of Jayant Gilatar after watching ‘Natsamrat’

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Jayant Gilatar’s ‘Natsamrat’ which released on 30th August 2018 has already began winning hearts. The movie was given a clear chit by the censor board and it just does not stop there. The member of the committee Nutan Sagar who is the sister of director Chandra Barot who directed Amitabh Bachchan starter film ‘Don’ has said to be in all praises of the director and the way he and his team has made the movie. She even did not shy away from asking the other directors in the Gujarati industry to keep a close eye on Jayant Gilatar’s work and try using some of his cinematic skills in order to bring up the Gujarati movie industry. She even appreciated how well the film has been made, the star-cast, the making & the direction.

When asked Jayant Gilatar about his reaction on receiving such praise for his movie he said, “I got to know from some of  the other members of the committee that Nutan Ma’am does not normally talk to anyone from the crew after watching the movie she just gives her remarks and leaves, but after watching ‘Natsamrat’ she personally called me and congratulated me on the making of the films and appreciated the entire teams hard-work. She even mentioned how she got emotional after watching the movie and how every family should go and watch it together.”

The movie is a Jhamu Sughand presentation produced under the banner of Sughand films and it has stars like Siddharth Randeria, Dipika Chikhalia, Manoj Joshi, Tasneem Sheikh.

The Times group critics has also praised the movie by saying “Coming from a reputed banner as Jhamu Sugandh’s, the production of the movie is flawless and they have ensured to pitch in just the right talent for every section of movie-making. Talking about the direction, it is at a fabulous level altogether. And you more or less expect that from a filmmaker like Jayant Gilatar (Chalk n Duster fame), who lets the story flow in a nearly flawless manner. Music and background score of the movie is wonderfully put up by Alap Desai. In particular, the song ‘Jat Jao’ sung by Alap Desai and Shreya Ghoshal is a soulful melody, while the song ‘Jeevan Aa Toh’ is woven perfectly in the sad scenes, making your eyes misty. Two elements form the soul of this movie–stunning performances by all the actors and powerful dialogues penned by Pravin Solanki and the immensely talented Sneha Desai.”

The Times of India has rated the movie 4.0/5 and Divya Bhaskar has rated the movie 4/5. The audiences have also been in all praise about the movie…

Siddharth Randeria once again proved that no one can beat him in acting…he is a flawless actor and Deepika Chikhalia also looks elegant…family movie with a message…100% watchable…

 

Gujarati, Other Language Films

Jackie Shroff starer ‘Ventilator’, Fast paced family drama between life and death

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With the news of National Award Winner Marathi ‘Ventilator’ appearing as an adaptation in Gujarati spreading like wildfire, the Gujarati audience is eagerly waiting for the release. The poster for the film released earlier has not only caught the attention of Gujarati families but also got them engaged in family discussions like no other!

The makers of the film are also equally eager to bring the film to the audiences. Jackie Shroff in the lead role of Jaggudada in ‘Ventilator’ has been the talk of the town and the Gujarati audience is definitely going gaga about it. Jackie Shroff looks stunning and at ease playing a slightly different role in a film in his mother tongue. With his mesmerizing acting, he is sure to leave everybody stunned! The entire ensemble infact is going to mesmerize everyone like no other. With a simple casting that matches the perfect tone of the film, the entire cast will surely leave you enthralled.  Life in modern times, engaging traditions blended with modern science and a fast paced family drama is what the trailer boasts of!

‘Ventilator’ will make you smile and super emotional at the same time. It will let you engage with age old family traditions and ultra-modern sciences, with Jaggudada’s “Ayeeebiduu” and other iconic dialogues to balance it all out.

Top ranking team from Gujarati theater and film namely Pratik Gandhi, Mitra Gadhvi and Manan Desai. Ojas Rawal and Sanjay Goradia are also playing key roles. They perfectly depict the culture and all the traditions of a Gujarati household. Gujarati ‘Ventilator’ is directed by UmangVyas and the screenplay for the film has been suitably adapted from the Marathi fim by Niren Bhat.

With ‘Ventilator’ Gujarati, a complete family drama, you are in for an experience quite different from any other! Do not miss the action and emotions exploding at the screens near you. This family drama is worth a watch for sure. A scintillating Jhalak of the film is being released today and the film ‘Ventilator’ is releasing in theaters on the 14th September.

Gujarati, Other Language Films

Dipika Chikhalia to make her comeback with Gujarati adaption of Natsamrat

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Actress Dipika Chikhalia, who played the role of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan in 1986 is all set to make a comeback. The actress will now be seen in a Gujarati Movie ‘Natsamrat’. The movie is Gujarati theatrical adaptation of the blockbuster and critically acclaimed Marathi movie by the same name. Nana Patekar’s role of Natsamrat is played by Gujarati Actor Siddharth Randeria, popularly known as GUJJU BHAI.

The Movie is Directed by Jayant Gilatar whose last directorial  “Chalk N Duster” was one of most critically appreciated of the year, starring Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi, Richa Chadda and may more popular actors of Bollywood.

Post Ramayan, Dipika was seen in popular shows like Sword of Tipu Sultan and Vikram aur Betaal. Dipika took a sabbatical after she got married to Gujarati businessman Hemant Topiwala, who is the owner of a cosmetic company. After quitting the entertainment industry, Dipika helped her husband in his business. The actress has two beautiful daugters – Nidhi and Juhi.

According to the source, Dipika  didn’t know about Jayant Gilatar, when she was approached for the film, she first watched Jayant Gilatar’s last directorial ‘Chalk N Duster’, after watching the film she was convinced with the directors vision as she loved the his previous film. She than also watched Marathi Natsamrat and agreed to act in Gujrati adaptation of the film.

She loved the Marathi film Natasmarat and loved Nana Patekar’s performance in the film. Not only that each and every character in the film is is equally important and makes it a phenominal movie to watch out for. She is very excited for the release of the film and assures that audience will love it too.

The movie releases on 30th August 2018.

 

Assamese, Other Language Films

Rima Das’ next Assamese feature, BULBUL CAN SING to make its World Premiere at 43rd TIFF

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After winning hearts with the internationally acclaimed and National Award Winner film, Village Rockstars, the writer-director-producer, Rima Das returns to the prestigious, Toronto International Film Festival with her next Assamese film, BULBUL CAN SING.

Das’ third independent feature in Assamese language will make its World Premiere in “Contemporary World Cinema” at 43rd edition of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) held from 6-16 September 2018.

The writer-director-producer made the film independently, in the same way as her earlier film, Village Rockstars. Sharing her joy, Rima says, “Its a huge honour to return to TIFF after Village Rockstars and start the journey of my next feature, Bulbul Can Sing, which will have its world premiere in the competition category – Contemporary World Cinema. It’s like the homecoming for me.”

Bulbul Can Sing is a visceral coming-of-age drama about a teenage girl, Bulbul, living in a village in Assam, fighting her way through love and loss as she figures out who she really is.

Rima Das debut film as a writer-director-producer, Man with Binoculars (Antardrishti) premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2016. Village Rockstars, her second feature, premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 under Discovery Section. The film has screened at more than 70 renowned film festivals and has won 44 awards including 4 National Awards (Best Feature, Best Editing, Audiography and Child Artist).