Delhistaan filmistaan

The Habitat Film Festival opened with an uncut version of Oscar nominated director Ashvin Kumar’s film — No Fathers in Kashmir — on missing menfolk in the Valley. It narrates the tale of two children in search of their missing fathers — while Noor, a British passport holder, will not give in till she gets her answers, Majid has remained in the Valley accepting his fate. It was a full house and a second hall too was opened to accommodate viewers.

Eminent fashion designer Ritu Kumar designed the costumes for her son and film-maker Ashvin Kumar’s latest film. Talking to the Habitat audience on his inspiration, Ashvin claimed how coming off with two feature documentaries in Kashmir, people’s shutters were coming down fast and that he wanted a way to project what he calls the ‘crisis of compassion’, which he feels is a critical issue in Kashmir. “In a way that it would allow millennials relate.”

Kashmir, he says, is a dark mirror image of what happens when you allow the state to enter your private life. “If you asked me about 10 years ago, when I made Inshallah, Football (2010), it would have been more of a foreboding…but today, this shouldn’t be going on in our country, where people are being persecuted and oppressed. It is happening under the secular republic, the largest democracy in the world. In today’s day and age, we have seen it unfold, in front of our eyes,” he argues before a packed audience.

The journey of Indian cinema started back in the day when the film was presented as a stage show at Calcutta's Star Theatre. From that era, Indian cinema has evolved, seeing many changes. While cinema is always considered as entertainment, with time, movies have moved much beyond that tagline.

Today Youtube is filled with young filmmakers showing off their talent and work to the world through their short films. Most movies are made for web series like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar etc to reach global audience.

In India there are 1600 films produced in various languages every year. Indian films are more watched by people than any other country in the world.

Films are given a lot of importance in India since many people are involved in making of it, not just actors and directors but the crew, camera person, makeup artists are many more.

Shirshendu, an aspiring actor was seen strolling around at the festival. He feels film festivals serve varied purposes coming from diverse cultural backgrounds.

The 21 year old actor says, “As I watched the movie No fathers in Kashmir, it is not only the story that I liked about it, but the similarity between reel and real which the film portrayed about the present scenario in Kashmir … children are desperate to know about their parents and come to a closure as they don’t have any clue about their whereabouts have given me goose bumps.”

Film festivals started becoming a highlight offering realistic films. The 14th edition of Habitat Film Festival has embarked on a cinematic journey at India Habitat Centre screening over 100 masterpieces, 42 feature films in more then 19 languages, world and India premieres, debuts, unreleased, first cuts and riveting documentaries. There are mater classes by visiting directors and panel discussions, short films and student’s cinema segment as well.

Films including Vaada Chennai, Kumbalangi Nights, Nagarkirtan, The Mosquito Philosophy, Mehsampur, Noblemen, Tarikh, The Gold Laden Sheep and the Sacred Mountain, Jonaki, Lorni - The Flaneur, Baaram, Abhyakto, Death of an Insane and many more feature along with post screening conversations with respective directors. Famed Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta from Ahaa Re and Malayalam actress Rima Kallingal from Aabhasam are attending the festival.

Uday, an aspiring young filmmaker, says, “This festival showcases films in a very large scale. Films such as student films, documentaries, feature films, short films and master classes offer a great exposure. Many films are shown with uncut scenes and are the first release of films. The good thing about this kind of festival is they give an opportunity to directors to showcase what truly a film is all about. It’s a good opportunity for young film makers like us to watch, learn and grow and know more about films that are not not restricted to Bollywood drama.”

A special package of documentaries on Dadasaheb Phalke Awardees directed by Savita Oberoi is being screened.