It’s the anniversary month for Vikalp@Prithvi! Did you know that we have been showing documentaries (and some short films) in collaboration with Prithvi Theatre every month since Feb 2007 (with a few months’ break in ’09)?
A bit about yesterday’s screening:
One of the audience members (and there were so many of them… we had to turn away some!) sent us this today:
“Following the screening of Lakshmi and Me and the short Marathi film, I’m glad that a lively discussion ensued between the filmmakers present and the audience about the motives of the filmmaker, about the gaze and objectivity, about when it is that the filmmakers blur the line between them and the subject they are filming and the relationship between the two.
Nishtha Jain spoke candidly about her own approach and her reflections after seeing the film after many years of it being made and how she would or would not have approached the same subject today. Audience was also interested in the blurring of lines between filmmaker and subject, employer and maid and that of two friends in a certain circumstance.
A Canadian member of the audience was intrigued with the idea of maids in Indian homes and how does that play out in the visibility and invisibility of certain people around us and our engagement with them.
The film on onion prices and the strict octroi regulations vis-a-vis terrorists entering the city and creating havoc in people’s lives – also led to discussions on the authenticity of the use of language in a fiction film and the use of make-up on some of the actors, who, according to a member of audience, did not look as real with make-up on given the socio-economic background portrayed in the film.
Overall, the diversity of the questions from a mixed bunch audience who get to interact with filmmakers is what makes Vikalp@Prithvi a monthly must-attend film screening in the city.”
Thanks, Kabir! 
Anyone who wants to buy a DVD of ‘Lakshmi and Me’ should mail [email protected]
And now for info on alternative films being shown in India this month:
‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’ by Pradip Krishen, Feb 2, Delhi
‘The Sicilian Girl’ by Marco Amenta (Italian), Feb 2 and 5, Delhi
‘You Don’t Belong’ by Spandan Banerjee, Feb 4, Pune
‘Hämnden’ (‘The Revenge’) by Charlotte Brändström (Swedish), Feb 4, Delhi
‘Sabad Nirantar’ by Rajula Shah, Feb 5, Pune
‘Return to Gorée’ by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud (French), Feb 6, Pune
‘Persistence Resistance’ – A Festival of Films, Feb 7-10, Delhi
‘Evening Classes’ and ‘Parade’ by Jacques Tati (French), Feb 9, Bombay
‘Escape from the Call Center’ by Federico Rizzo (Italian), Feb 9 and 12, Delhi
‘Swimming In Air’ by Janice Tanaka, Feb 10, Delhi
Alpavirama 2011 – South Asian Short & Documentary Film Festival, Feb 18-20, Ahmedabad
Bring Your Own Film Festival 2011, Feb 21-25, Puri, Orissa
‘The Man Who Saved The Taj Mahal’ by Jay Bajaj, Feb 26, Delhi
Vikalp@Prithvi Anniversary Screening of ‘Inshallah, Football’ by Ashvin Kumar, Monday, Feb 28, 7 pm, Prithvi House, Juhu, Bombay
For details, check the Discussion Board on the facebook group.
- Chandni