The Indian Cinema Now section of the IFFK will have seven films, featuring both contemporary and traditional aspects of Indian life. ‘Adukalam’, ‘Azhagar Swamiyin Kuthirai’ (Azhagarswamy’s Horse), ‘Baboo Band Party’, ‘Chaplin’, ‘Handover’, ‘Mala Ayi Haichil’ (I Want to be a Mother) and ‘Nouka Dubi’ are the films included in this section. Three of the films are by debutant directors. Based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore, ‘Nouka Dubi’ by Rituparno Ghosh was screened at the IFFI. The film revolves around the life of Rameshchandra Chaudhury, a lawyer by profession. He is in love with Hemnalini, and is displeased when he finds that his father wants him to marry Sushila, the daughter of a widow. He initially refuses, despite his father disowning him, but changes his mind when the bride’s mother pleads with him, and gets married without even seeing his bride. After the marriage, they board a boat, which overturns after a storm, and they end up being the only survivors. On talking with her gradually over the next few months, it slowly sinks in that she is not Sushila but Kamla - the bride of another man. Vetri Maran’s ‘Adukalam’ bagged the national awards for best actor, director and script. When Petaikkaran, the emperor of the murky underworld of rooster fight in Tamil Nadu for 40 years, is challenged and proved wrong by his disciple Black, he decides to avenge the insult. What follows forms the plot of ‘Adukalam’. ‘Azhagar Swami’s Horse’ is set in a lively Tamil village in the eighties. A ceremonial statue of a horse goes missing, throwing the whole villagers into comic chaos. Rajesh Pinjari’s ‘Baboo Band Party’ won three national awards, including best actress and best debutant director. The film also bagged many Maharashtra state film awards. The film captures a tug-of-war between fate and hope. It shows the irrepressible surge to soar in life, pitted against the vicious grip of circumstances. ‘Handover’ is about an impoverished Dalit couple from rural India who hit the headlines when it is exposed that they have sold their child. ‘Mala Aai Haichil’ is based on a true incident. The film is about Mary, a model from a foreign country, who comes to India with a dream of becoming a mother and selects a poor Yashoda as surrogate mother. ‘Chaplin’ sketches the life of Bangshi, who does comic performances on the street for a living.
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