Runumi G | PassionforCinema

Runumi G is a film critic by passion and journalist by profession, and lives in the cyberspace

Runumi G's Blog

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‘T20 of Indian Cinema’ Contest at 40th IFFI
Here is something that will lead to some passionate exchanges, I am sure: T20 of Indian Cinema contest, the first of its kind, will be held during the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). A brainchild of Manoj Srivastava, CEO of ESG (Entertainment Society Goa), the idea behind the contest is to involve the whole country with IFFI, getting film lovers to rate...
by Runumi G at November 11th, 2009 at 03:11 pm
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40th IFFI: Indian Panorama 2009 announced
Indian Panorama, 2009 will have 26 feature films and 18 non-feature films during the 40th International Film Festival of India, 2009 (IFFI-2009) to be inaugurated in Goa later this month. The lists of the films are given below: FEATURE FILMS Opening Film – Paltadacho Munis (Konkani), by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar Others: Aainaate (Bengali), Dulal Dey; Angashumaner...
by Runumi G at November 4th, 2009 at 03:11 am
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From Blighty With Love
The UK Film Council has announced From Blighty With Love, an initiative that will see the best of British film light up Indian screens (in Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore) next year. The festival, which will run from 26th Feb to 10th March, 2010, will screen recent independent UK films in the first such initiative by Britain to bring independent specialised British films to...
by Runumi G at November 2nd, 2009 at 06:11 am
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International script development lab for Indian children’s films 2009
Filmmakers and wannabe filmmakers – here’s a useful announcement for you that I received with a request for wide dissemination (the term “the child and family audience” in British cinema parlance encompasses films suitable for children, and not necessarily include what we know as ‘family films’ in India, I have been informed by the organisers...
by Runumi G at October 30th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
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The MFF (MAMI) curtain raiser
The Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI) committee led by chairman Shyam Benegal and trustees Jaya Bachchan, Amit Khanna, Shabana Azmi, Amol Palekar, Ashutosh Gowarikar have unveiled the line-up for the 11th annual Mumbai Film Festival (MFF), which will screen 200 films from 56 countries. All of the international films to be screened in the main sections of this year’s...
by Runumi G at October 21st, 2009 at 03:10 am
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Schrader’s ‘Xtrme City’ is Mumbai
Paul Schrader – of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull screenplay fame – tying up with Mushtaq Shiekh – of Om Shanti Om, Billu and under-production Ra.1 screenplay fame – could be as interesting as mashing up chalk and cheese. But then, it’s happening for real. And soon. The two, along with Anubhav Sinha – of Cash, Dus, Ra.1 fame – will...
by Runumi G at October 10th, 2009 at 02:10 am
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Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Manna Dey
The 2007 Dadasaheb Phalke Award goes to Manna Dey, the man who gave us immortal gems and continues singing even though he is 90. He will be given the award by the President of India during the 55th National Award presentation ceremony on 21st October. Dey’s name was recommended by a committee comprising Dr A Nageshwara Rao, Yash Chopra, Vijaya Mulay and Ustad Amjad...
by Runumi G at September 30th, 2009 at 02:09 am
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Road, Movie in Tokyo Film Fest competition
Dev Benegal’s Road, Movie is in the Competition Section of the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival that starts on 17th October. Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance has been nominated for Best Asian-Middle Eastern Film Award at the festival’s Winds of Asia – Middle East section, where one of its competitors will be Abbas Kiarostami’s Shirin.
by Runumi G at September 18th, 2009 at 06:09 am
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55th National Film Awards (2007) announced
Very briefly main awards: Best Feature: Kanchivaram by Priyadarshan Best Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan for Naalu Pennungal Best First Film of a Director (Indira Gandhi Award): Frozen by Shivajee Chandrabhushan Best Actor: Prakash Raj (Kanchivaram) Best Actress: Umashree (Gulabi Talkies) Best Non-Feature Film: Hope Dies Last in War (dir Supriyo Sen) Best Popular Film Providing...
by Runumi G at September 7th, 2009 at 05:09 am
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Konkani film in Discovery section of Toronto fest
The media has widely reported about Ashutosh Gowariker’s What’s Your Rashee and Anurag Singh’s Dil Bole Hadippa having their world premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this time. But it is one small film, in Konkani, that probably will become big at TIFF. We are talking about Paltadacho Munis (The Man Beyond The Bridge), directed by Laxmikant...
by Runumi G at September 2nd, 2009 at 04:09 am
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Hum Dono in Colour: screening in Delhi
Guys: the colour version of Hum Dono will be screened at Siri Fort Audi II at 6 pm on 4th Sept. It will open a Dev Anand retrospective that will run through the next two days. And yes, the young old man (or, the old young man) will be present at the Hum Dono screening. So those in Delhi, you can catch the screening for free.
by Runumi G at September 2nd, 2009 at 04:09 am
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Critique of a critique of Kaminey
Running against the course is one way of seeking and getting attention. And Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr in his ‘A pretentious film bamboozles critics’ (DNA, 25th Aug, 2009) does exactly that. Even if one goes by the view that one is entitled to have one’s own, very individual view that might go against the popular/majority view when it comes to any creative work, Rao...
by Runumi G at August 26th, 2009 at 04:08 am
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Open Frame ‘09
The Public Service Broadcasting Trust, in partnership with WISCOMP (Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace), Max Mueller Bhavan and INPUT (INternational PUblic Television) is organising its annual International Film Festival & Forum between September 11 and 17 2009, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The festival focus is on the intricate relationship...
by Runumi G at August 22nd, 2009 at 06:08 am
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Sikandar: Missed opportunity
Sikandar releases on August 21, 2009Piyush Jha’s Sikandar (Big Pictures and Sudhir Mishra’s Cine Raas Entertainment Pvt Ltd) takes a look at impact of militancy and the resultant violence on the people of Kashmir, through the eyes of children, more specifically through the eyes of wannabe footballer Sikandar and his school mate Nasreen. Looking at violence through...
by Runumi G at August 20th, 2009 at 01:08 pm
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First glimpse As The River Flows (Assamese)
As The River Flows This is the first-ever glimpse of upcoming Hindi movie As The River Flows (click here to watch the video). It will also have an Assamese version, titled Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipare, which literally means “Across an unseen river”. It’s Bidyut Kotoky’s debut movie (he had won a special jury award at the 2005 National Film Award...
by Runumi G at August 18th, 2009 at 08:08 am
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40th IFFI Indian Panorama entry opens
Indian Panorama entries (for 40th IFFI, Goa 23rd Nov-3rd Dec) has opened. Here’s the relevant link: http://www.dff.nic.in/indianpanoram2009regulations.pdf. The last date for entry is 10th September.
by Runumi G at August 17th, 2009 at 01:08 am
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Kaminey: Just Dhan Te Na!
Vishal Bhardwaj takes one of the most popular themes of Bollywood – that of identical twins – and mixes with another of the most popular themes – that of clash of ideals between brothers – and mashes it with some of the commonest Bollywood elements – corrupt policemen, criminals-aspiring-to-be-politicians, drug runners and mafia who would stop at nothing...
by Runumi G at August 14th, 2009 at 01:08 am
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Yeh Mera India: N Chandra’s best yet?
N Chandra’s name was associated with very successful films – Ankush, Pratighat, Tezaab (remember ‘Ek, Do, Teen…’ and Madhuri Dixit?) – that looked at the underbelly of the society and politics in a loud way. These were films that said everything in the loudest possible manner, and managed to strike a great chord with the ‘aam janta’. In a way, Ankush,...
by Runumi G at August 12th, 2009 at 06:08 pm
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Sankat City: Advani’s Walking the Talk
Pankaj Advani walks the talk. Like his posts on PFC, his Sankat City too is great fun, to put it simply. But it is intelligent fun, the kind that speaks much without actually getting loud, though quite a few things are done over the top, perhaps deliberately, to poke fun at things that are intricate part of the Hindi potboiler narrative. The comedy is kind of zany and...
by Runumi G at July 9th, 2009 at 08:07 am
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Shakti Samanta Retro in Delhi
Shakti Samanta was the man who gave us Rajesh Khanna the superstar. He was the man whose films one still remembers for their classic songs. He was the one who incorporated social subjects within the framework of mainstream cinema to give some superhit films that provided some food for thought. Before he died on April 9, he made 43 films, of which 37 were in Hindi and six...
by Runumi G at July 9th, 2009 at 08:07 am
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MIFF entry opens
Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (M.I.F.F.) call for entries: M.I.F.F. is a biennial event. The 11th Mumbai International Film Festival (M.I.F.F. – 2010) is scheduled to be held from 3rd to 9th February, 2010 in Mumbai. The entry form, rules and regulations for M.I.F.F. – 2010 are available on website www.miffindia.in and...
by Runumi G at July 3rd, 2009 at 01:07 am
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Russian Film Fest in Delhi
Film Trust India & Russian Center of Science and culture cordially invite you to ” Memory of the Great War “.. Russian film festival dedicated to the 64th anniversary of the victory over fascism in the great patriotic war ( 1941 -1945 ) JULY 6 -10, 2009 ,6.30 PM at the Russian center of science and culture, 24, Ferozshah Road , New Delhi Venue Cinema...
by Runumi G at July 3rd, 2009 at 01:07 am
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1st Ahmedabad International Film Festival: Results
Results of the 1st Ahmedabad International Film Festival (www.aifilmfest.com): Harishchandrachi Factory by Paresh Mokashi has won the Best feature film award of $2500 . In the Short Film Competitive Category, 88 keys to heartbreak, a film by Nishit Mohan Singh went to win best short film (fiction) and best cinematography award along with $2500. The award citations...
by Runumi G at June 30th, 2009 at 06:06 am
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Madan Mohan The Unheard: Give Me More
Remember the music of Woh Kaun Thi? Or of Haqeeqat? Or of Mera Saaya? Or of Aashiana, Adalat, Anpadh, Bhai Bhai, Manmauji, Sanjog, Dekh Kabira Roya, Sharabi, Ghazal, Jahanara, Heer Ranjha, Hanste Zakhm, Chirag, Dastak, Mausam And Laila Majnu? The man behind all this, the legendary Madan Mohan, passed away 34 years ago, on July 14, 1975. And this June 25 will be his 85th...
by Runumi G at June 20th, 2009 at 03:06 am
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Cannes: Cinema Paradiso
Exhausted! That is what I am. I have been to film festivals and film festivals, and when I got the opportunity to come for the first time to Cannes, I knew it was the biggest one, but had never imagined it would be so big. May be, that’s what everyone finds out the first time here. And if you are a journalist who also has to write for his newspaper (because the newspaper...
by Runumi G at May 22nd, 2009 at 06:05 am
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Cannes: ‘Basterd’ Tarantino!
Tarantino is back, and how! Inglourious Basterds created all the anticipated storm here at Cannes. Quite surely, the presence of Quentin Tarantino and Brad Pitt played a major role in that. But that was outside the theatres – the Grand Lumiere Red Carpet screening will be in the evening, but the early morning media screening saw a packed house, followed by a mad scramble...
by Runumi G at May 20th, 2009 at 04:05 am
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Cannes: Almodovar, Loach, Resnais
Is it the effect of the recession gloom I don’t know, but the peddlers of heavy stuff have all come with feel good films this time to Cannes. If Ang Lee’s ‘return-to-innocence’ ode to Woodstock, not surprisingly called Taking Woodstock, lightened the Cannes delegates’ mood left shocked and awed by Lars von Trier’s Antichrist and some gory stuff in a few other...
by Runumi G at May 20th, 2009 at 04:05 am
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Cannes: Antichrist
Speechless. That was what most of the critics who came out last night from the media screening of Danish master Lars von Trier’s Antichrist. What a shocker of a film this is. Forget Jane Campion’s Bright Star, Jacques Audiard’s Un Prophete, Park Chan-wook’s Thirst, Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock, Ken Loach’s Looking for Eric – all quite good films – and get...
by Runumi G at May 18th, 2009 at 11:05 am
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Cannes: Vengeance’s secret formula to success
Dear filmmaker (and film lover) friends in India. I have just discovered the secret formula through which you can get your film into Cannes, possibly even the competition section. Get some French investment in the project, sign a big French name (such as music icon Johnny Hallyday) and develop a story which has a French connection – even a remote one will do. That’s...
by Runumi G at May 17th, 2009 at 05:05 am
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Cannes: Taking Woodstock, Un Prophete
Ang Lee means tragic stories. At least that has been the case in recent years. Watch Taking Woodstock, and you will be astounded his this man changes genres like we change shirts. How many directors in contemporary world cinema can we think of who has such versatility in terms of theme, treatment and making as Lee? From Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to Lust, Caution,...
by Runumi G at May 16th, 2009 at 06:05 am