The Fakir of Venice - Image courtesy of IFFLA
With the resounding success of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ the world appears to have turned its gaze to the orient. But to those in the know, the connection between Hollywood studios and Indian filmmakers has been developing, silent and steady, for the last few years and is on the cusp of finally exploding onto our screens, electrifying and bigger than life.
The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, IFFLA for short, has long been the official junction where Hollywood bigwigs meet Bollywood talent and the magic is born. Though the word ‘Bollywood’ is frowned upon by Indian filmmakers — who prefer the term ‘Indian Cinema’ instead — it is still recognized as a trademark of sorts, a promotional gimmick that can be used to inspire visions of colorful movies, beautiful actresses, handsome actors and loads of action, music and dance. Yet nowhere is it more apparent than at IFFLA how this term fails to include the diversely artistic forms of modern cinema coming out of India these days. Having grown up during a time when Italian cinema had the same problem, with masterpieces by such distinct filmmakers from Fellini to De Sica, from Visconti to Pasolini being called ‘Cinecittà’ for short — after the name of Rome’s busiest film studios — I personally think of ‘Bollywood’ as just another short-hand term, used mostly to make a marketing point.
The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles is the creation of cinema aficionada Christina Marouda, who started the yearly event in 2003. It is a festival unique in many ways: the venue of the ArcLight Hollywood Cinemas is a haven of inclusion in the typically dispersive atmosphere of Los Angeles; at IFFLA the audience is encouraged to mingle and connect with the filmmakers in a truly unique and friendly environment; and the films shown during the five-day festival are unique, one-of-a-kind gems that would be hard to catch at a theater near you, even one which typically features Hindi films.
This year, IFFLA opens with a gala event that is going to be every film fan’s dream come true, featuring the world premiere of ‘The Fakir of Venice’ — directed by Anand Surapur, starring the beloved Annu Kapoor and the phenomenally multitalented Farhan Akhtar — and followed by a dazzling evening of food, fun and filmmakers at a reception in a nearby Hollywood hotspot. Personally, I am hoping to catch a glimpse of the stunning Mallika Sherawat, the hilarious Kunal Nayyar of CBS’ ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN.
But the fun and entertainment don’t stop there, with films ranging from Sooni Taraporevala‘s beloved slice-of-life film set in Bombay ‘Little Zizou’ in its West Coast premiere, to the sadly poignant documentary ‘Air India 182′, to the anticipated North American premiere of ‘Siddharth – The Prisoner’ starring the magnetic Rajat Kapoor, to Deepa Mehta‘s fantastical take on domestic violence ‘Heaven on Earth’.
And last, but definitely not least, this year’s festival will feature and honor Anil Kapoor — now known to western audiences for his wonderful performance as Slumdog’s slick game show host Prem Kumar — who has taken on the unofficial role of ambassador for Indian Cinema in Los Angeles. With his upcoming role on ’24′, his charismatic good looks and wearing the producer’s cap as well for the thought provoking film ‘Gandhi, My Father’, Mr. Kapoor represents the limitless essence of Indian Cinema. Because isn’t it time we put away those disastrous lenses of gloom, stop predicting the financial failures of the world and instead wear some marigold-colored glasses while looking confidently to the East?!
IFFLA runs from April 21st through April 26th, when it ends with another gala centered around Megan Doneman’s documentary “Yes Madam, Sir” about Kiran Bedi, the first woman to join the Indian Police Service, narrated by Helen Mirren. Stay tuned for exclusive interviews and regular updates from the festival’s frontlines, right here on the HUEA column.
