New Voices in Indian Cinema: Two Films by Mohit Takalkar

Toto Funds the Arts

in association with

The British Council Library

is proud to present the sixth edition of

New Voices in Indian Cinema

with a screening of two films by Mohit Takalkar

Chirebandi  and The Bright Day 

Date: Saturday, 18 November 2017

Venue: The British Council Library, Prestige Takt, 23 Kasturba Road Cross (Opposite Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum) Bengaluru 

Programme: 

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chirebandi (90 minutes)

3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Bright Day (90 minutes)

(The screenings will be followed by an audience interaction with the director)

About the Films

CHIREBANDI 

A documentary on the playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar, who is widely admired for his relentlessly creative spirit, immaculate craftsmanship, the sweeping canvas of his plays, and his deep understanding of the human psyche. The film aspires to understand the person behind the playwright, demystify his writing process and provide a window into his extraordinary life. It narrates the story of how Elkunchwar, raised in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, became one of India’s most important, prolific and multifaceted playwrights. At its core, the film explores the mystery and sources of creativity, and the playwright’s constant struggle to give creative expression to deep and fundamental truths through the medium of drama. 

THE BRIGHT DAY 

A feature film in Hindi/English about the confusions and dilemmas of a young generation finding their feet in the world and searching for the path they want to take. The film travels through visually diverse and arresting terrains and locales to explore this journey, and depicts inner and outer worlds through strong cinematic imagery. 

The film premiered at the prestigious Toronto International film festival before travelling to film festivals in Shanghai, New York, London, Mumbai, Calgary, Vancouver, The Hague among other places. The cast of the film includes Rajit Kapur, Shernaz Patel, Mohan Agashe and Sarang Sathaye.

About Mohit Takalkar 

Mohit Takalkar has led a life devoted as much to theatre (as a playwright and director) as cinema (as a film editor, director and scriptwriter) for the past 18 years.

Since setting up his theatre group Aasakta in Pune in 2003, Mohit has directed over 30 plays in Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, English, Rajasthani and Kannada. He made his directorial debut with Girish Karnad’s Yayati in 1999. His notable productions have included Mein Huun Yusuf Aur Ye Hai Mera Bhai, F-1/105, Uney Purey Shahar Ek, Comrade Kumbhakarna, Garbo, Kashmir Kashmir and Chotyashya Suttit. 

He has won a slew of awards and fellowships, among them the Homi Bhabha Fellowship, Bismillah Khan Sangeet Natak Award, Shankar Nag Award, Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskar, Sahitya Rangbhoomi Fellowship and Maharashtra State Award. As a Charles Wallace Scholar, Mohit completed his post-graduation (with distinction) in Theatre Practice from the University of Exeter.

He is currently creating a new theatre piece, a monologue in Urdu, Mathemagician, which will have its first shows in November in Mumbai. A trained chef, he also runs a small restaurant, ‘Barometer’, which opened in Pune last August.