Category Archives: Indie

Director Ram Alladi’s period drama ‘Ra’s- Metanoia’ on Mahatma Gandhi’s life looks every bit the director’s promise

Depicting history in a period movie is honestly not an easy feat. While the filmmakers often add a slice of fiction and their imagination to the story, they still go to be authentic about the era they’re bringing live on the big screen and director Ram Alladi’s Ra’s Metanoia is one of them. Premiered last year on several international film festivals it is based on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s life and most significantly, his memoir, Magic Spell Of A Book. The film is shot entirely in the USA and it combines vintage film styling with state of the art computer-generated sets to create this spellbinding non-linear story of Gandhiji. A periodic drama with historically accurate elements, Ra’s Metanoia takes the audience through the key moments in Gandhi’s life; from childhood to his untimely death in 1948 in New Delhi.

Ra’s Metanoia has won major critical acclaim with 9.5 IMDb ratings it has been praised for its accurate portrayal of the life of Gandhi, his love for Music and also for Mr.Srinivasa Rao’s (who played Bapu character) superlative performance, production values and theme, not only Ram has won the Best Director award at the Dada Saheb Phalke film festival but the film listed in the best short film category in the ReelHeART International Film and Screenplay Festival in Toronto and has been recognized by both the European and New York Cinematography Awards, as well as London’s Gold Movie Awards, Venice Shorts, JellyFilm Fest, Los Angeles, and the Amsterdam World International Film Festival. It has won trophies for best biographical film and best screenplay at the Oniros Film Awards in New York, best visual effects and best short film at the Cult Critic Movie Awards and best editing, best score and best short film at Virgin Spring Cinefest.

Talking about the film and Gandhi, Director Ram Said , “Ra’s Metanoia is a period drama film with fictional elements it chronicles Gandhi’s extraordinary life with a combination of fact and fiction whilst encapsulating scientific concepts such as quantum mechanics, Einstein Rosenberg bridge and rare space elements. The film seamlessly weaves a tapestry of a richly narrated story with Gandhi principles and is based on true events of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s life, which starts from the first hours of his last day. I started writing the plot in my mind when I saw Gandhi’s blood stained shawl in a showcase in Gandhi Museum, New Delhi, where I had gone for my high school educational tour and so it took me nearly 30 years to make this film and I personally feel it is such an amazing experience to have write the story and direct it.”

Ram Alladi’s next film titled “Nabhamsi”, a feature-length film entirely in Sanskrit is set to release soon.

Gamak Ghar Movie Review: Ozu and Kore-eda subtly echoed in form and poignancy

It is not very often that you are treated to an Indian film as meticulously constructed as debutante Achal Mishra’s Maithili language drama Gamak Ghar(translated to ‘village house’ and pronounced as ‘गामक घर’).The young filmmaker’s control over the cinematic form is impressive, especially his mis-en-scene. The sources of his inspiration also filled me with much delight.

Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of my most favourite contemporary directors and I spent a better part of the last month devouring his oeuvre. I am still under the spell of his subtle, minimalist cinema that unexpectedly leaves you emotionally wrecked, much like another Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu’s films. Many a movie buff has lamented over the absence of such intimate domestic dramas in Indian cinema, despite the large potential. Imagine my delight on spotting the influence of these legendary filmmakers in Gamak Ghar.

The opening frame of the film sets the mood.

Continue reading “Gamak Ghar Movie Review: Ozu and Kore-eda subtly echoed in form and poignancy”

Aamis (2019) Movie Review: The New Normal

Two people meet, a bored doctor in her late 30’s and young man in his 20’s. Sparks fly, they bond over food and fall in love. Well this could be story of so many countless romantic films. So, what makes Aamis stand out?Continue reading “Aamis (2019) Movie Review: The New Normal”

Akshay Indikar’s directorial debut feature, ‘Trijya’, will be screened at the 23rd Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2019 (PÖFF)

‘Trijya’ (Radius) debut feature of the talented Akshay Indikar has been selected for the prestigious ‘Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’ (PÖFF). The 23rd edition of the festival will be held from November 15th to December 1st. Produced by Chitrakathi Nirmitee and Bombay Berlin Film Productions, ‘Trijya’ will be the first Marathi-language film to be a part of PÖFF. This will be the second feature of Bombay Berlin to screen at PÖFF, a notable A-list festival, positioned with the likes of Berlinale, Cannes and Venice Film Festival. The festival screens over 250 films from across the world, with more than 80000 cinephiles religiously attending this film festival.Continue reading “Akshay Indikar’s directorial debut feature, ‘Trijya’, will be screened at the 23rd Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2019 (PÖFF)”

Kolkata-You Humbled Me!!

On the afternoon of 15th of June, Friday, I was a little worried. The notice board outside says, if at least 20 people doesn’t turned up, the show will be cancelled. And a 1:30 pm show in a hot & humid afternoon, on a working day, is not the most ideal time for our Assamese film Xhoixobote Dhemalite/RainbowFields  to start its journey in Kolkata’s Nandan  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandan_(Kolkata). To make the matter more complicated, our PR guy for Kolkata ditched us big time – there was almost no coverage of the release in Kolkata till then. What more, I had couriered the posters of our film from Mumbai one day before my departure, thinking it will be up in the complex at least a day before the show. Big mistake, the posters are lost in transition, with the different city brunches of the courier company trying to solve the mystery.In short, Mr Murphy had proclaimed his undying love for me all over again. Continue reading “Kolkata-You Humbled Me!!”

Shreelancer Movie Review: A Freelancer’s Quest to find his Moorings

One keeps hearing about freelancing and its associated risks as well as benefits all the time. All of us would certainly know of someone or the other who is either a freelancer by choice or by default. Perhaps some of us have even gone through a phase where one has ended up freelancing just to get an idea of what it is all about. I have had my own tryst with freelancing, a journey which even led to this platform called MAM (Mad About Moviez) being set up in the process. In my case it all began when I was bored with my regular corporate job and contemplating how to go about plunging full-fledged into my area of passion. Yes there have been ups and downs in the process, often even questioning my sanity and my decision but the persistence has really helped. No, this is not a post on my freelancing journey or anything thereabout, but pardon my indulgence as I couldn’t but help taking an inward look while watching Sandeep Mohan’s Shreelancer.Continue reading “Shreelancer Movie Review: A Freelancer’s Quest to find his Moorings”

All about Utpal Borpurjari’s Assamese Feature Film “Ishu”

Produced by Children’s Film Society, India; Screenplay & Direction by Utpal Borpujari

Adapted from: Manikuntala Bhattacharjya’s novel “Ishu”

Screenplay & Direction: Utpal Borpujari
Producer: Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI)
Associate Director: Monjul Barua
Executive Producer: Jitendra Mishra
Cast: Kapil Garo, Tonthoingambi Leishangthem Devi (Manipur), Bishnu Kharghoria, Chetana Das, Pratibha Choudhury, Dipika Deka, Nibedita Bharali, Monuj Borkotoky, Basanta Rabha, Dhananjay Rabha, Manuj Gogoi, Naba Kumar Baruah, Mahendra Das, Mahendra Rabha, Uday Rabha, Srabanta Rabha Continue reading “All about Utpal Borpurjari’s Assamese Feature Film “Ishu””

Hansal Mehta’s Rajkummar Rao Starrer ‘Omerta’ To Have Its World Premiere At TIFF 2017

Hansal Mehta’s next Omerta which features Rajkummar Rao will have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2017 in the Special Presentations category.

Rajkummar Rao essays the titular role of British radical of Pakistani origin, Omar Sheikh known for his involvement in kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002 and his links to various Islamist organizations in Omerta.Continue reading “Hansal Mehta’s Rajkummar Rao Starrer ‘Omerta’ To Have Its World Premiere At TIFF 2017”

Katharina Suckale On Producing ‘The Idiot’ And Why Cinema Should Not Shy Away From Tackling Topical Issues

Katharina Suckale‘s journey into the world of cinema began 25 years ago. She began by working in film distribution and sales with MK2 – Marin Karmitz in Paris and later moved to film production.

She founded Suckale Film Produktion in 2003 and directed documentaries, short and experimental films and produced in Germany, France, Africa and India, where triggered her love for India. Subsequently Suckale co-founded Bombay Berlin Film Productions (BBFP) with actor Arfi Lamba (Fugly, Singh Is Bling). Since its inception, BBFP has produced many noteworthy features including Prague (as Executive producers), LOEV and The Road To Mandalay that combine unconventional subjects, lifelike characters and everyday issues in a very interesting manner.

Their latest venture ‘The Idiot’  is in a similar vein and another interesting addition to their repertoire. Directed by Ruchi Joshi and Sriram Ganapathy, the 18 minute short film deals with issues of Islamophobia, religious fanaticism and bigotry among other topical issues. Continue reading “Katharina Suckale On Producing ‘The Idiot’ And Why Cinema Should Not Shy Away From Tackling Topical Issues”