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The 3RD ANNUAL BOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL
January 23 - March 2
The Bollywood Film Festival is back with 10 of Mumbai’s best, including new releases and premieres from 2009 and 2008. If you loved Slumdog Millionaire, don’t miss our tribute to master filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, director of The Blue Umbrella, Maqbool, and Kaminey (the Doris Duke Theatre screened his film masterpiece Omkara in 2008). Along with films that epitomize this film genre—highly stylized familycentric romantic comedies with dazzling dance numbers (Dil Bole Haddipa, Kaminey)—we also include critically acclaimed films based on Indian epics and novels, as well as a Shakespearean tragedy, Mumbai noir, socially conscious cinema, and an indie production.
Special thanks to Indru and Gulab Watumull for their generous donation; Debashri Sengupta Muralidharan for her expertise and knowledge of Indian film, Vinitha Vinayachandran of UTV Films, Alice Coelho of Eros Entertainment, and Vaibhav Rajput of Yashraj Films for their support of this festival.
Delicious Indian food for purchase from Bombay restaurant; wine, beer, and soda for purchase from the Pavilion Cafe on opening night, Saturday, January 23, from 6:00-7:30pm and closing night, Tuesday, March 2, from 6:00-7:30pm.
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HAWAII PREMIERE: DEV D.
Director: Anurag Kashyap
India, 2009, 138 mins.
Hindi with English subtitles
Cast: Abhay Deol, Mahi Gill
Feb. 4 at 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 5-7 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
The famed novella Devdas by Sharatchandra Chatterjee has been adapted for the screen many times (see Devdaas), including by illustrious filmmakers P.C.Barua and Bimal Roy. But this version, hailed as one of the most brilliant new Hindi releases, is a riveting interpretation of a classic tale of lost love and self-destruction, with crisp dialogue, mind-boggling cinematography and intoxicating music. Now set in the lush mustard fields of Panjabi and the streets and dingy rooms of Delhi, Dev D. portrays (often humorously) Dev as a self-indulgent hypocrite who re-discovers love after hitting rock bottom.
Purchase tickets online.
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THE BLUE UMBRELLA
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
India, 2007, 90 mins.
Hindi with English subtitles
Cast: Shreya Sharma and Pankaj Kapur
Feb. 9-11 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
One day Biniya, a villager in the foothills of the Himalayas, trades her lucky charm for a beautiful blue umbrella—and everyone tries to get their hands on it. The umbrella goes missing, and the hated village shopkeeper is the prime suspect. A visual treat that is touchingly innocent. Based on Ruskin Bond’s novel of the same name.
Purchase tickets online.
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JODHAA AKBAR
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
India, 2008, 213 mins.
Hindi and Urdu with English subtitles
Cast: Hrithk Roshan and Aishwarya Rai
Feb. 12-14 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
A period epic based on the real-life story of Mughal Emperor Akbar and his Hindu wife Jodhaa Bai. Fiery Jodhaa resents being reduced to a pawn in what starts as a marriage of political convenience. Akbar’s biggest challenge is not winning battles but winning the love of his wife. Alluding to modern-day issues, Jodhaa Akbar illustrates that love can overcome racial and religious prejudice—no matter what century we’re in.
Purchase tickets online.
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DEVDAS
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
India, 2002, 182 mins.
Hindi and Bengali with English subtitles
Cast: Shahrukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai
Feb. 16-17 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19 at 12:30 p.m.
This extravagant second adaptation of Sharatchandra Chatterjee’s classic novella (see Dev D.) is set in the early 1900s. Devdaas Mukherjee wants to marry his childhood sweetheart Paro, but can’t stand up to his disapproving parents. Paro marries someone else, and Devdaas fritters away his life. The stunning courtesan Chandramukhi falls in love with him, but he only belittles her. Devdaas’ hypocrisy and egoism pave a path for a tragic romance. Includes Ismail Darbaar’s traditional Indian scores.
Purchase tickets online.
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MAQBOOL
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
India, 2004, 132 mins.
Urdu and Hindi with English subtitles
Cast: Irrfan Kahn as Maqbool
Feb. 20-21 and 23 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
In this all-star Indian reworking of Macbeth, Maqbool (Irfan Khan) murders everyone who is an obstacle on his path to power, including his mentor and guardian, Abbaji. Guided by his scheming wife Nimmi, the couple gets their comeuppance when their crimes and guilt catch up with them. Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri play corrupt policemen and provide comic relief with sinister jokes and predictions.
See a clip.
Purchase tickets online.
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SWADES
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
India, 2004, 189 mins.
Hindi and English with English subtitles
Cast: Shahrukh Khan and Gayatri Joshi
Feb. 24-26 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
When respected NASA scientist Mohan Bhargav returns to his homeland for vacation, he is confronted by misery, poverty, prejudice and superstitions in rural India. He takes action, changing this community forever. Soulful music by Oscar winner A.R. Rehman.
See the trailer.
Purchase tickets online.
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OYE LUCKY! LUCKY OYE!
Director: Dibakar Banerjee
India, 2008, (running time/ck)
Hindi with English subtitles
Cast: Abhay Deol , Paresh Rawal, Neetu Chandra
Feb. 27-28, March 1-2 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Based on the true story of Lucky Singh, a charismatic thief who mingled with Delhi’s high society then robbed them blind. The Bombay noir film opens with his trial and charts his rise from crime-ridden suburban Delhi to the corridors of power. The film’s genius lies in its ability to remain entertaining while offering a subtle critique of class envy and conflict, and the nature of celebrity.
Purchase tickets online.
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See the March schedule, which includes:
The 8th Annual Kirk Cashmere Jewish Film Festival March 6-18
From Bunuel to Warhol: Modernism in Film March 21-21
Coming in April:
2nd Annual Filipino Film Festival April 20-29, opening with Last Supper No. 3.
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General information: The Doris Duke Theatre opens its doors on Kinau Street one half-hour before each showing.
Tickets for films may be purchased at the theater door on the day of screening, beginning one half-hour before each showing.
Admission: $8 adults; $7 seniors, students and military; $5 Academy members.
Parking: For weekday matinees, theater patrons may park in the lot behind the Academy Art Center at Linekona (entrance on makai side of Beretania) for $3 with theater validation. For evening screenings, you can park free at the Academy's lot at 1035 Kinau St., Diamond Head of Victoria Street. Handicapped parking is available in the small Luce Pavilion lot on Victoria Street. Patrons using handicapped stalls should proceed to the main entrance on Kinau Street.
For the hearing impaired: The Doris Duke Theatre is equipped with the Easy Listener Hearing Assistance System. You can pick up a receiver at the ticket counter.
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