Welcome to the 22nd edition of our Bollywood festival – now officially known as the Indian Film Festival.
It still brings us joy to share the latest from Indian (mostly Mumbai) film studios with you. We love experiencing high-quality viewings on the big screen together, and seeing your reactions. Bollywood seems to be recovering from the slump it went through in recent years, so this year’s film selection process was a real pleasure. And what do we have in store for you?
When we screened the charming documentary Supermen of Malegaon sixteen years ago, about a group of young cinephiles in a provincial town making amateur remakes of famous films, we never dreamed that Bollywood itself would one day pick up this theme – as a tribute to cinema and its power to shape lives. Acclaimed director and screenwriter Reema Kagti (co-writer of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy) takes the story further in The Superboys of Malegaon. She highlights issues of social inequality and fate’s unfairness, but above all captures the complexity of friendship and the power of solidarity when everything is at stake. We will be screening The Superboys of Malegaon at the festival’s opening night, in the presence of H.E. the Indian Ambassador. And as a special treat, after the film and a short break, we will also show the now-legendary 2008 documentary featuring the original young dreamers – giving you the rare chance to compare Bollywood fiction with Indian reality.
Currently enjoying a wave of success is long-time star Shahid Kapoor. Once the sweet, boyish face of Bollywood, today he surprises with muscles, stubble, and full-blown masculine swagger in Deva, where he plays an underworld legend – a corrupt cop who loves to dance, seduce women, and shoot his way out of trouble. In a very different role, you can also see him in the sci-fi romantic comedy I’m Wrapped in Your Words, as a brilliant cyber engineer who falls in love with his aunt’s creation – a charming female robot – and introduces her to his family as his fiancée from America. Expect a lot of tension, humor, and fantastic dance performances.
And what would our festival be without a film starring Shah Rukh Khan? This year we dip into the archives with the timeless 1990s megahit Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. No introduction is needed for long-time fans, while younger audiences can look forward to three hours of family-romantic drama packed with eight unforgettable songs and dazzling dance sequences. In Karan Johar’s directorial debut, SRK shines alongside Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, and Salman Khan. A must-see (even if it’s for the second or third time)!
On a much darker note, we present the crime thriller Santosh. This was last year’s British Oscar nomination, telling the story of a policeman’s widow who, out of necessity, takes over her husband’s job and becomes involved in investigating the murder of a young girl from the lowest caste. It is a harsh indictment of India’s still-surviving caste system and the corruption of the police, who resort to the most brutal practices. Even members of the Indian Censor Board reportedly watched the film with bated breath; they demanded so many cuts and alterations that the filmmakers refused, meaning the film is practically banned from screening in India. So here is your unique chance!
Back in 2008, we screened Life in a… Metro, which portrayed nine lives in Mumbai tied together by themes of marriage, infidelity, and fear of commitment. Eighteen years later, director Anurag Basu (Barfi!, Jagga Jasoos, Ludo) returns with a loose follow-up, Metro… In Dino, which similarly weaves together the stories of eight different characters – this time exploring loneliness, connection, and emotional vulnerability. Filming took place not only in Mumbai but also Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.
Finally, we have a special surprise for Aamir Khan fans – the charismatic “Mr. Right” of Bollywood. In his latest film Champions of the Earth (a remake of the Spanish hit Champions), he plays a grumpy, troubled basketball coach battling alcoholism. After crashing into a police car while drunk, he is given a chance to turn his life around by training a team of physically and mentally challenged boys and girls. And of course, it wouldn’t be an Aamir Khan film if he didn’t gradually come to love his players, become a better man, and teach his wild team to win games.
We are truly thrilled about this year’s line-up and hope you will find a new favorite among our selection of moving, romantic, and entertaining films. Thank you for your support – and we look forward to sharing unforgettable moments with you in our beloved cinema Světozor.
Radim Spacek
creative director of the festival