Latest news with #ShyamBenegal
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
London screening of Manthan celebrates South Asian heritage and people-powered cinema
As part of South Asian Heritage Month 2025, Reborn India Film Festival hosted a special screening of Shyam Benegal's iconic film Manthan (1976) at The Garden Cinema, London, on Sunday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This landmark event pays tribute to one of 's most socially significant and artistically celebrated films. Starring Smita Patil, Girish Karnad, and Naseeruddin Shah, Manthan is remembered not only for its gripping portrayal of rural transformation but also for its groundbreaking production model — funded by 500,000 farmers of Gujarat who each contributed ₹2. The film, rooted in the White Revolution and the dairy cooperative movement spearheaded by Dr. Verghese Kurien, remains a shining example of cinema as a tool for social change. Through themes of caste, community, and empowerment, Manthan continues to resonate with contemporary audiences. Its stark realism and compelling storytelling reflect the struggles and hopes of rural India on the cusp of progress. Reborn India Film Festival, known for showcasing culturally vital and socially driven cinema from the Indian subcontinent and diaspora, sees this screening as part of its mission to revive meaningful narratives.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Prime Video introduces NFDC – Cinemas of India as an add-on subscription
Prime Video said it has on-boarded National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) – Cinemas of India, as an add-on subscription. NFDC offers an extensive library featuring iconic films by renowned and internationally acclaimed directors such as Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Mira Nair and Kalpana Lajmi, to name a few. 'With this add-on subscription, customers in India can enjoy evergreen classics from multiple Indian languages at ₹199 per year,' Prime Video said. 'NFDC has been the cornerstone of India's finest cinema, nurturing path-breaking films for decades. We're excited to announce NFDC – Cinemas of India as our newest add-on subscription, featuring an exclusively curated collection of cinematic masterpieces,' said Gaurav Bhasin, head of marketplace (add-on subscriptions and movie rentals), Prime Video. 'The collection showcases the rich heritage of Indian cinema across our linguistically diverse entertainment industry. Whether you're a cinephile or just beginning to explore Indian cinema, NFDC's catalogue offers an unparalleled window into our country's most acclaimed and culturally significant films,' he added. 'For decades, NFDC has supported pioneering filmmakers and impactful narratives that showcase India's cultural diversity. With Prime Video's massive reach across the country, we are confident that these timeless, thought-provoking, stories will reach and be enjoyed by new audiences, and enable us to take Indian cinema far and wide,' said Prakash Magdum, MD, NFDC Ltd.
Mint
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Gandhi to Salaam Bombay: Now watch critically-acclaimed films on OTT, here's how to watch
In a major boost to cinephiles and cultural archivists, Prime Video has launched NFDC – Cinemas of India as a new add-on subscription, offering a rich library of some of India's most iconic and critically acclaimed films. For just ₹ 199 per year, subscribers can now access a treasure trove of titles that shaped the very foundation of Indian cinema. The newly launched collection includes cinematic landmarks from legendary filmmakers such as Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Mira Nair, Kalpana Lajmi, and many others. Among the standout titles are Gandhi, Salaam Bombay!, Rudaali, Agantuk, Mirch Masala, and Ghare Baire—films that have not only earned accolades at home but have also left a mark on the global festival circuit. While commercial Bollywood fare dominates the digital landscape, the addition of NFDC's catalogue offers a much-needed counterpoint—a curated collection of films that defined India's parallel and regional cinema movements. Many of these works, once confined to festival circuits or Doordarshan reruns, are now digitally available to a new generation. The catalogue spans multiple Indian languages, including Bengali (Agantuk, Ghare Baire), Marathi (Bangarwadi, Doghi), Malayalam (Parinamam, Bioscope), Tamil (Marupakkam, Jameela), Telugu (Stri, Tiladaanam), and Gujarati (Percy), among others. Critically decorated, globally recognised Several of the featured films are globally awarded: Gandhi (Hindi) won Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes Salaam Bombay! received the Caméra d'Or at Cannes and an Oscar nomination Qissa (Punjabi) won the NETPAC Award at TIFF Paar (Hindi) earned the UNESCO Award at Venice The collection also includes multiple National Film Award winners, offering viewers a wide range of themes—from caste and gender to displacement and memory. 'Whether you're a cinephile or just beginning to explore Indian cinema, NFDC's catalogue offers an unparalleled window into our country's most acclaimed and culturally significant films,' said Gaurav Bhasin, head of marketplace at Prime Video. The move also aligns with NFDC's long-standing mission to democratise access to meaningful cinema.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New York Indian Film Festival Highlights Include Shyam Benegal and James Ivory Tributes: What to See
The 25th anniversary edition of the New York Indian Film Festival — one of the nation's leading showcases of independent Indian cinema — unspools at New York's Angelika through Sunday, June 22. Officially opening Friday, June 20 with Raam Reddy's 2024 Berlinale selection 'The Fable,' the festival includes Anurag Kashyap's intense Hindi-language thriller 'Kennedy' as the Centerpiece on June 21. Kashyap will also host a master class on the challenges facing Bollywood and the future of independent cinema in India. More from IndieWire Apple TV+ Signs First-Look Film Deal with North Road's Chernin Entertainment 'You Kind of Have to Fight for More Room': Melissa Barrera Says Diverse Casting Has Net Effect on Productions There's also a tribute to late, great Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal, with a 4K restoration of his 1976 landmark 'Manthan,' about India's White Revolution and revived by the Film Heritage Foundation. As part of a program of films honoring master storytellers, the New York Indian Film Festival will also screen Dev Benegal's 2024 short for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 'An Arrested Moment.' The film explores Oscar-winning director James Ivory's fascination with Indian art and culture. Ivory established Merchant-Ivory with his creative and personal partner Ismail Merchant, the Indian film producer who died in 2005. Early indie films made out of India from the director/producer pair include 'The Householder,' 'Shakespeare Wallah,' and 'Bombay Talkie' before they transitioned famously to adapting classic, canonical English-language novels. 'An Arrested Moment' plays June 22 with Taira Malaney's documentary 'Turtle Walker,' which explores the population of enigmatic sea turtles living along the coasts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This year's New York Indian Film Festival actually kicked off on Thursday, June 19 with the North American premiere of 'Tanvi the Great,' which marks Anupam Kher's first directing effort in two decades; the political and personal epic, about a young woman confronting her father's military legacy, premiered at the Cannes Market earlier this year. Kher has worked as a lauded actor on Indian productions since the early 1980s, best known for his onscreen performances and acting school (he previously directed 2002's 'Om Jai Jagadish'). Robert De Niro surprised Kher with an appearance at the Angelika screening. Kaushal Oza's directorial debut, the coming-of-age film 'Little Thomas,' closes the festival, and it follows an only child in 1990s Goa trying to help his parents give him a baby brother. Other highlights include Aditya Kriplani's fiction-and-reality-blurring fame critique 'I'm Not an Actor' with 'Sacred Games' star Nawazuddin Siddiqui; an LGBTQ double feature for Pride Month' with the gay romance 'Riptide' followed by the short 'IYKYK'; Nikhil Mahajan's climate change tale 'The Tiger,' about the struggle between human and tigers in a remote village; and much more. See the full schedule and buy tickets via New York Indian Film Festival's official website here. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mandi cast reunite at a pride film festival to honour Shyam Benegal's legacy
In a moment of cinematic nostalgia and quiet celebration, the 16th Kashish Pride Film Festival brought the cast and crew of Mandi (1983) back together after 42 years. The reunion took place on the evening of June 6, as part of a tribute to filmmaker Shyam Benegal , a long-time patron of the festival and a pioneer of socially engaged Indian cinema . Held in Mumbai, the screening was part of a retrospective honouring Benegal's fearless storytelling — known for its sharp take on power, patriarchy, and sexuality. The event struck a chord with audiences and cast members alike, many of whom described the experience as deeply emotional. Actor and singer Ila Arun, who debuted with the film, said watching it again was like 'reliving the entire experience.' Soni Razdan echoed the sentiment, noting how Mandi was 'truly ahead of its time' and a project shaped by collaboration, experimentation, and a willingness to push boundaries. The film's ensemble cast had camped together in Hyderabad during its shoot — an unconventional production model that Razdan said helped create the 'kaleidoscopic mad caper' that audiences still remember today. Joy Bimal Roy, who began his career as Benegal's assistant on Mandi , recalled the director's egalitarian approach on set: 'He treated senior actors and juniors alike with respect. Watching the film again after 43 years was a flood of memories.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The tribute held special meaning for Pia Benegal, costume designer and daughter of the late director. She highlighted her father's commitment to 'exploring stories from the margins' and his belief in inclusive storytelling — values that align closely with KASHISH's ethos. Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan described the Mandi reunion as 'a dream come true,' noting that Benegal's work continues to inspire contemporary filmmakers with its blend of compassion, courage, and creative risk. As the festival celebrates a new wave of queer narratives, the Mandi screening stood as both a nod to the past and a reminder of the timeless relevance of films that dared to challenge the status quo.
