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Indian films to star at London fest

Leading the Indian contingent to the event will be Chitra Palekar’s Maati Maay, Goutam Ghose’s Yatra and Kabir Khan’s Kabul Express.

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LONDON: The London Film Festival will celebrate its golden jubilee next month with 181 feature films and 131 shorts and the European premiere of Kevin MacDonald’s The Last King Of Scotland opening the event.

Leading the Indian contingent to the prestigious event will be Chitra Palekar’s Maati Maay, Goutam Ghose’s Yatra and Kabir Khan’s first feature film Kabul Express.

Palekar’s Maati Maay, translated as The Grave-Keeper’s Tale, is based on a short story by Mahasweta Devi about the superstitions surrounding the life of a woman who is forced to tend the graves of children.

Nandita Das powerfully portrays the protagonist, who has to hide her identity from her son Bhagirath. When he discovers the truth fights for justice for his mother.

Yatra sees Bollywood diva Rekha return to the role that established her in the industry — that of a courtesan. The film revolves around a novelist, played by Nana Patekar, who after collecting an award in Delhi decides to go looking for the original muse of his book — Lajvanti, the nautch girl. The novelist’s wife, Deepti Navel, worried about his disappearance decides to go looking for him and finds him in the courtesan’s home.

Kabir Khan has made his first full-length feature after making a few documentaries, and Kabul Express gives a South Asian perspective on the conflict in Afghanistan. Starring Bollywood hunk John Abraham and Arshad Warsi, the film takes a look at the grimness of war.

Also representing India are Dombivili Fast and Gafla. Taking its name from a station in Mumbai suburbs, Dombivili Fast pays homage to the award winning Hollywood film Taxi Driver. The protagonist, Madhav Apte, is a docile banker who finally snaps against the corruption he faces daily by challenging it vigilante-style.

Gafla is also based in Mumbai, this time on the stock market and its boom and bust scams. Sameer Hanchate’s debut film draws powerful performances from a virtually unknown cast.

Mira Nair, whose The Namesake has recently been the toast of the Toronto Festival, will also be bringing her latest offering to London.

“In this significant year, we’re very excited to be able to bring such a strong selection of original and distinctive films to London, together with some truly innovative special events,” said artistic director of the festival Sandra Hebron.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming all our participating filmmakers, audiences and press and industry delegates to join us in celebrating the Festival’s 50th anniversary and its promising future,” she added as she released the programme.

The extravaganza taking place between 18 October and 2 November will be rounded off by the UK premiere of Babel starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Gael Garcia Bernal.

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