- Follow us
-
-
-
-
-
-
[Photo Source: IFFLA]
Presented by Zee Cinema, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)—taking place from April 6 to April 10—will highlight a diverse combination of movies that represent the growing appeal of the Indian film industry. Held at ArcLight Hollywood each year, IFFLA supports filmmakers as they navigate a larger system and caters to the crossover South Asian-American audience. This year is no different.
With a rich section that speaks volumes of how far Indian movies have come, IFFLA aims to nullify sullen Bollywood stereotypes.
Director: Pan Nalin
Actors: Sandhya Mridul, Sarah Jane Dias, Rajshri Deshpande, Anushka Manchanda, Pavleen Gujral
[Photo Source: IFFLA]
What happens when fearless, confident, and strong women come together? A must-watch film.
“Angry Indian Goddesses” tells a tale of these women, each of different background and holding onto their dreams and desires, who come together and then no subject is off limit. Love, sex, careers, marriage, friendship, sexism and the benefits of a super hot next-door neighbor are all up for debate.
But it is ultimately tragedy and the power of unity in the face of institutional misogyny that binds these women together forever. Not only does this film celebrate the uniqueness of the individual women involved, it also celebrates the strength and flaws of women in the modern Indian society.
Director: Deepa Mehta
Actors: Randeep Hooda, Waris Ahluwalia, Sarah Allen, Gulshan Grover, Ali Momen
[Photo Source: IFFLA]
Loosely based on second and third generation Indo-Canadian gangs that came into notoriety in the 1990s, “Beeba Boys” follows the rich tradition of the gangster film but in a community and culture never before seen on screen.
Jeet Johar is a dutiful father and son, and a proud Sikh in Vancouver. However, he is also the leader of a ruthless gang called Beeba Boys.
The movie delves into a side of the immigrant story we haven’t experienced in any movie and takes us into the world of organized crime.
Director: Anu Menon
Actors: Naseerudin Shah, Kalki Koechlin, Rajat Kapoor, Arjun Mathur, Suhasini Ratnam
[Photo Source: IFFLA]
This movie tugs at your strings in all the right ways. When Tara loses her husband of six weeks as he is in a coma, she meets and forms an unlikely friendship with Shiv, whose wife has also been in a coma for eight months. Through their grief, they connect and relate to each other to realize that the fear of change is holding them back from making important decisions.
Having lead actors like Shah and Koechlin portray poignant, heartbreaking characters is the biggest bonus of all.
Director: Hansal Mehta
Actors: Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkumar Rao, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gauri Balaji
[Photo Source: IFFLA]
Based on the true story of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a linguistics professor at Aligarh Muslim University who faced suspension and possible termination due to his sexual orientation, “Aligarh” is a timely effort to throw light on the unfortunate Section 377 ruling of the Delhi High Court.
Bajpayee’s portrayal of Siras, who is concerned with the beauty of life and not fighting the court, is beautiful and captures the heart. This is a story that needs to be told a thousand times over and one that speaks to a country that hopes to provide equal rights to members of the LGBT community.
[Photo Source: IFFLA]
Director: Q
Actors: Shashank Arora, Tanmay Dhanania, Chaitanya Varad, Vaiswath Shankar
A coming-of-age comedy set in the ‘80s, the film will make you nostalgic and laugh our loud at the same time. When four very smart boys win a quiz and head for the National Championship to Calcutta from Bangalore, they decide to go on a mission of sexual conquests.
The characters’ innermost desires manifest in vibrant animated sequences and unexpected musical interludes. It all adds up to an indelible portrait of young male libido that looks like a classic of the genre.
Director: Neeraj Ghaywan
Actors: Richa Chaddha, Shweta Tripathi, Sanjay Mishra, Vicky Kaushal, Vinit Kumar
[Photo Source: IFFLA]
Ghaywan, who is an IFFLA alum, has made the most-talked about film in the last year, and for good reason. He navigates into dangerous territory: a realistic portrayal of young romance in India. Underlying with politics, corruption, tragedy, “Masaan” is, in the end, about the hope of love and all that it can bring.
Ghaywan never loses sight of the hope for a brighter future in his delicate and powerful masterwork.
With prime picks like these, IFFLA, sponsored by Zee Cinema, will gain the Indian film industry the credibility it deserves.
[Read Related: The 14th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) to Feature Almost 30 Films in 5 Days]
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest India News on India.com.
