Independent India - addicted to Bolywood
5th annual

Program

Sixty years after India gained its independence, this country’s prolific film industry continues to comment, celebrate and, at times even, critique society, relationships, culture and even globalization. This year, the festival showcases a wide spectrum of films, new and old, that are in some way indicative of what Bollywood has been and may yet become. Apparent paradoxes abound. Krishna meets superhero in Krrish. Mumbai crook encounters Mahatma Gandhi in Lage Raho Munnabhai. Indian police solves crime in Rio in Dhoom 2. A young woman struggles for her freedom only to become the second wife of a Maharajah in Zubeidaa. Gandhi’s less known work in South Africa is told in Making of the Mahatma. Tens of thousands of crowds welcome Shah Rukh Khan on his US tour in the rare Bollywood documentary The Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan. More than 14 films will be screened at Kino Svetozor between October 11-14, 2007.

All films are with English subtitles or in English except the Czech movie Cizinci u nás - Indové v Čechách at 17:30 - small hall, Saturday October 13.



Lage Raho Munnabhai - 17:15 big hall, Thursday October 11

director
Rajkumar Hirani
(2006 – DVD – 144 min.)

cast
Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vydia Balan

In this highly successful, award winning and much appreciated sequel Munnabhai MBBS, the affable goon Murli Prasad Sharma (Munnabhai) and his trusted aide Circuit are employed by Lucky Singh an extortionist and unscrupulous building contractor. Munna is in love with the voice of a radio jockey named Jahnvi . He gets to meet her in person after winning a radio contest on the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. To win he decides to learn about Mahatma Gandhi's life and principles to win her heart .



Pyaasa - 17:30 small hall, Thursday October 11

director
Guru Dutt
(1957 – 35mm – 146 min.)

cast
Guru Dutt, Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman








This is Guru Dutt’s real masterpiece. It tells of the thirst for love, for recognition, for spiritual fulfilment. There is a strong parallel between the hero, a poet, the outsider trying to make a place for himself in the society he inhabits and the director, the outsider, trying to leave his independent stamp in a world of formulaic cinema.



Dhoom 2 - 20:15 big hall, Thursday October 11

director
Sanjay Gadhvi
(2006 – DVD – 152 min.)

cast
Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan



Second in the Dhoom series, Jai and Ali are back as policemen on a tough assignment so far. "Mr.A", a thief and master strategist, plans to steal a priceless artifact in Mumbai. Can he be stopped? Packed with action, dance and suspense Dhoom 2 takes us from Mumbai to Rio in hot pursuit.


Audiovisual - 20:30 small hall, Thursday October 11
The Prague Bollywood Festival collaborates with NoMasala (Berlin) and Short Circuit (Bombay) on a program featuring non-commercial Indian visually creative shorts that showcase the parallel, or art, movement in Indian cinema today (www.nomasala.com)
For more info about Audiovisual Program click here.

(DVD – 120 min.)


Pyaasa - 17:00 small hall, Friday October 12

director
Guru Dutt
(1957 – 35mm – 146 min.)

cast
Guru Dutt, Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman








This is Guru Dutt’s real masterpiece. It tells of the thirst for love, for recognition, for spiritual fulfilment. There is a strong parallel between the hero, a poet, the outsider trying to make a place for himself in the society he inhabits and the director, the outsider, trying to leave his independent stamp in a world of formulaic cinema.



1942: A Love Story - 17:15 big hall, Friday October 12

director
Vidhu Vinod Chopra
(1993 – 35mm – 157 min.)

cast
Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala








A young Indian couple, both from wealthy backgrounds, find themselves caught up in the 1940's Indian revolutionary movement which pitches them against their own families who are unable to stand up against the British colonial power. Featuring a critically acclaimed kiss, the film also received five Filmfare awards.



Ram Teri Ganga Maili - 20:00 small hall, Friday October 12

director
Raj Kapoor
(1985 – 35mm – 178 min.)

cast
Rajiv Kapoor, Divya Rana, Saeed Jaffrey






A hit Bollywood movie made by Raj Kapoor, tells the story of a young man from Calcutta, who falls in love with a very innocent girl in mountains and marries her. Before leaving for Calcutta, he promises that he will come back to get her. But he never returns. The girl becomes mother of his child and finally she decides to search her husband.



Krrish - 20:15 big hall, Friday October 12

director
Rakesh Roshan
(2006 – DVD – 185 min.)

cast
Rekha, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra



This Bollywood science fiction megahit superhero film tells the story of Krishna, a boy who inherits extraordinary powers from his scientist father. Krishna now faces his biggest challenge as he battles to save the world from the megalomaniac scientist Dr. Arya.



Parineeta - 11:00 big hall, Saturday October 13

director
Pradeep Sarkar
(2005 – 35mm – 130 min.)

cast
Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan

This Bollywood musical adaptation, surprise hit rendition of the 1914 Bengali novella centers around a young woman, Lalita, who was orphaned as a child who grows up with her uncle. She befriends Shekhar the musically inclined son of Navin Rai, a moneylender who demands that Lalita’s uncle repay the money he borrowed. The plot thickens further when Girish, a young man visiting from London, fall in love with Lalita and completes the love triangle.



Parzania - 13:30 big hall, Saturday October 13
 
director
Rahul Dholakia
(2005 – 35mm – 125 min.)

cast
Naseeruddin Shah, Corin Nemec, Sarika

Cyrus and his family are Parsi, followers of a rarely practiced, politically neutral, religion in India. They are middle class and live quietly in a housing development, that is mostly Muslim. One morning in 2002, the India's peace is rocked beyond measure, as a fire erupts in a train killing 58 Hindus. Within 24 hours, 100,000 Hindu citizens storm into Ahmedabad. Cyrus battles for his sanity as he desperately searches for his son… Based on a true story and recognized with national awards, this film is a must see for those who ask what Bollywood films never show.
Director will be present for Q&A.


===================================================

films on loan from One World Human Rights Festival

16:00 small hall, Saturday October 13
Good Marriage Begins with Tears
Two Bangladeshi girls born and raised in London are about to get married, but their fiancés were chosen by their parents. The elder of the two sisters is quick-witted and coarse-mannered, while the other is more submissive and devout. But both have their doubts. Simon Chambers followed the months leading up to the big day and its aftermath from close up. The film offers a rare, candid and humorous glimpse into the life of a family and the clash of generations and cultures.
director Simon Chambers (2006 – DVD – 62 min.)

17:30 small hall, Saturday October 13
Cizinci u nás – Indové v Čechách
How do South Asians live in the Czech Republic? How did they come here? What are their fears? Their aspirations? How do they live their lives? We find through three personal stories.
director Vlastimil Šimůnek (2003 – DVD – 28 min.)

No More Bhopals
This documentary looks back at the biggest industrial accident in human history that occured in Bhopal in India in 1984. During one night several thousand people died and hundreds of thousands were injured. What has been done since then to make sure that such an accident cannot happen again in India or anywhere else?
director Lucy Clayton (2001 – DVD – 9 min.)

==================================================

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom - 16:30 big hall, Saturday October 13
 
director
Shaad Ali
(2007 – DVD – 138 min.)

cast
Abhishek Bachchan, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta

This dance and song filled film begins with a mysterious gypsy like musician  leading the crowds at Waterloo station in  London in a dance to the title song. Two strangers, Rikki Thukral  and Alvira Khan, wait for their respective fiancés. Rikki is a fun-loving  Punjabi boy from  who lives in Southall , while Alvira is a middle class Pakistani  girl from Lahore brought up to feel at home in Britain . The two share a table in a cafe.



Making of the Mahatma  - 18:30 small hall, Saturday October 13

director
Shyam Benegal
(1996 – 35mm – 144 min.)

cast
Rajit Kapoor, Pallavi Joshi, Sean Michael









Resistance without violence. Confrontation without enemies. Victory without losers. This joint Indian/South African venture, directed by Shyam Benegal, tells the story of the early life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also known as Mahatma Gandhi) during his 21 years in South Africa.



Fanaa - 19:00 big hall, Saturday October 13

director
Kunal Kohli
(2006 – DVD – 168 min.)

cast
Aamir Khan, Kajol, Tabu

Blind from birth, Zooni Baig lives in a small town 45 kilometers from Gulmarg in the State of Kashmir, India, with her protective parents. When she expresses a desire to travel to Delhi with a dance troupe of local girls, her parents initially refuse permission, but subsequently relent. In Delhi, the troupe is met by their Guide, Rehan Khan, who takes an instant liking to Zooni, soon both fall in love, and on her last day in Delhi, sleep together. Rehan wants Zooni to regain her vision and gets her admitted to a local hospital, while she invites her parents to witness her regaining her sight as well as meet her lover. But fate takes an unexpected, violent turn.



Inner World of Shah Rukh Khan - 13:30 big hall, Sunday October 14

director
Nasreen Munni Kabir
(2005 – DVD – 49 min.)

starring
Shah Rukh Khan




On and off set, from Mumbai to Delhi, Shah Rukh Khan shares with us his deeply personal memories, thoughts and experiences between a hectic schedule.



Zubeidaa - 14:30 small hall, Sunday October 14

director
Shyam Benegal
(2001 – 35mm – 153 min.)

cast
Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpai

Zubeida is an an aspiring Muslim actress who is forced to marry Mehboob Alam when her father finds out about her acting career. Her marriage in shambles, she meets Maharaja Vijayendra Singh who is attracted to her and proposes to take her. Zubeidaa accepts and moves to Fatehpur to become his second wife. But her’s is not a story of “happily ever after”.



Omkara - 15:00 big hall, Sunday October 14

director
Vishal Bharadwaj
(2006 – DVD – 145 min.)

cast
Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma



Set in the rural outlaw landscape of Uttar Pradesh, this Indian style adaptation of Othello is entertaining, gripping – showing Hindi cinema at its rawest and, critically acclaimed, best.



Making of the Mahatma - 17:30 small hall, Sunday October 14

director
Shyam Benegal
(1996 – 35mm – 144 min.)

cast
Rajit Kapoor, Pallavi Joshi, Sean Michael









Resistance without violence. Confrontation without enemies. Victory without losers. This joint Indian/South African venture, directed by Shyam Benegal, tells the story of the early life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also known as Mahatma Gandhi) during his 21 years in South Africa.



Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan - 18:00 big hall, Sunday October 14

director
Nasreen Munni Kabir
(2005 – DVD – 90 min.)

starring
Shah Rukh Khan







A fascinating journey through the UK and the USA in the company of Shah Rukh Khan, as he fills the largest stadiums and arenas in 14 major cities. Venturing where no camera has gone before, we follow King Khan as he performs for armies of screaming fans whilst, behind the glamour and glitter, we reveal the serious dedication of a star caught in the eye of an adoring storm.



Salaam Namaste - 20:00 big hall, Sunday October 14
 
director
Siddharth Anand
(2005 – DVD – 158 min.)

cast
Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Arshad Warsi



Nikhil (Nick) and Ambar (Amby) have left India in order to live their own lives in Melbourne Australia. Nick dreams of becoming a famous chef. Ambar left her home to avoid marriage and is studying to become a surgeon. Will these two people fall in love? Will they stay together? Is there a Bollywood story in the making?

Parzania - 20:30 small hall, Sunday October 14
 
director
Rahul Dholakia
(2005 – 35mm – 125 min.)

cast
Naseeruddin Shah, Corin Nemec, Sarika

Cyrus and his family are Parsi, followers of a rarely practiced, politically neutral, religion in India. They are middle class and live quietly in a housing development, that is mostly Muslim. One morning in 2002, the India's peace is rocked beyond measure, as a fire erupts in a train killing 58 Hindus. Within 24 hours, 100,000 Hindu citizens storm into Ahmedabad. Cyrus battles for his sanity as he desperately searches for his son… Based on a true story and recognized with national awards, this film is a must see for those who ask what Bollywood films never show.
Director will be present for Q&A.


Related Events:

22:00, Saturday October 13 - BOLLYWOOD PARTY - p.m. klub (Trojická 8, Praha 2)
- featuring dance hits from Bollywood Films - DJ MUNICH MASALA (MÜNCHEN) - a Bollywood dance show, song-and-dance video clips
For more info about Party click here

Exhibition of Bollywood film posters at Kino Světozor (11. - 14. 10. 2007)

Indian cuisine at Kino Světozor for duration of the festival

Entrance:
cinema Světozor
big hall - 100 Kč
small hall - 80 kč

Bollywood party (p.m. klub): 150 Kč