| Date |
Film |
Comments |
| Jan 20
|
Pather Panchali (1955),
dir. Satyajit Ray; 122 min |
The directorial debut of
Ray, this film established him as a director of international
note and lyrical realism. |
| Jan 27 |
Bunty aur Babli (2005),
dir. Shaad Ali; 170 min |
In stark contrast, this
film about a couple of loveable con artists pulsates with
energy. The closing credits are worth the price of the
ticket! |
| Feb 3 |
Mother India (1957),
dir. Mehboob Khan; 172 min |
There is no more iconic
film than this, starring mother and sons, peasants and evil
landlords. One of three Indian films nominated for an
Academy. |
| Feb 10 |
Bhumika
(1977), dir. Shyam Benegal; 142 min |
A powerful, feminist film
by one of the New Cinema's top directors, this film offers a
alternative vision of Indian women. |
| Feb 17 (from
5-8pm) |
Shree 420
(1955), dir. Raj Kapoor; 168 min |
One of the great films of
the "golden era," this film, its Chaplinesque protagonist,
and memorable songs are a perennial favorite. |
| Feb 24 |
Pyaasa
(1957), dir. Guru Dutt; 146 min |
"A masterpiece of world
cinema," according to one critic, this film about a struggling
poet and the prostitute who believes in him contains some of the
most moving scenes and songs in Indian film. |
| March 3 |
Amar, Akbar,
Anthony (1977), dir. Manmohan Desai; 184 min |
A riotous comedy which the
serious intent of suturing Hindu, Muslim, Christian divisions.
|
| March 10 |
Deewar
(1975), dir. Yash Chopra; 174 min |
A reworking of Mother
India, this film sealed Amitabh Bachchan's fame and
established the 1970s "angry young man" icon. |
| March 24 |
Sholay
(1975), dir. Ramesh Sippy; 204 min |
If you see only one
Bollywood film, this should be it. Inspired by Sergio
Leone's "spaghetti westerns," this is the "masala
western." |
| March 31 |
Dilwale
Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), dir. Aditya Chopra; 181 min |
Inaugurating the NRI
(non-resident Indian) phenomenon and launching Shah Rukh Khan's
career, DDLJ offers striking thematic contrasts to the
films of the '70s. |
| April 7 |
Kal Ho Naa Ho
(2003), dir. Nikhil Advani; 186 min |
Another film of the
diaspora, this one set in post-9/11 New York, KHNH both
amplifies and challenges traditional family relations.
|
| April 14 |
Mughal-e-Azam
(1960), dir. K. Asif; 173 min |
Set in the time of the
Mughals, the film reprises themes of tradition-modernity,
father-son, public-private central to the emerging nation. |
| April 21 |
Dil Se
(1998), dir. Mani Ratnam; 163 min |
Amidst India's 50th
anniversary celebrations, Ratnam's film explores the fissures in
the polity, those left out in the nation's spectacular rise.
|
| April 28
(tentative) |
Shatranj Ke
Khilari (1977), dir.
Satyajit Ray; 129 min |
Ray's only Hindi film,
SKK is set in 1856 just before the Indian "Mutiny" and
explores British colonial expansion and the princely response.
|