An overview of 15 important cinema related programs (In conversation, Masterclasses and Panel discussions) to be organized during 55th International Film Festival of India IFFI Goa 2024 by film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 14.11.2024
At film festivals, cinéphiles gain invaluable insights from conversations, masterclasses, and panel discussions that deepen their understanding of cinema. These events provide them unfettered access to filmmakers, critics, and...
18th MIFF 2024 showcased an impressive global diversity with 314 films from 59 countries, representing 61 languages. This broad cultural representation not only emphasized MIFF’s role as a hub for international exchange but also highlighted the power of documentary and short films in connecting people across cultures. By including films from countries such as Russia, Japan, and Mali, MIFF positioned itself as a bridge for cross-cultural storytelling, encouraging mutual u...
Film historian Lalit Mohan Joshi’s poignant film ‘‘Angwal’’explores the vibrant yet often overlooked culture of Kumaoni poetry © film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 05/11/2024
“Angwal,” which translates to “embrace,” is a documentary directed by Lalit Mohan Joshi that explores the vibrant yet often overlooked culture of Kumaoni poetry. A BBC journalist based in the UK and founder of the South Asian Cinema Foundation, J...
Animation films by Swiss animation director Georges Schwizgebel : A world of animation where fluid and imaginative style creates captivating scene transitions through the use of classical music. An article by film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) © 24.10.2024
Born in 1944 in Reconvilier, Switzerland, Georges Schwizgebel studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Geneva before founding the GDS production studio in 1970. His work is highly regarded for it...
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On 2nd March 2024, after having watched Indian maestro Mrinal Sen’s critically acclaimed film ‘‘Kharij’’ [1982] on Screen 9 of PVR Cinema during 15th Bangalore International Film Festival 2024, Haobam Paban Kumar sat together with film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) to talk about the theme of disappearance in his latest film ‘Joseph’s Son’ [2023]&n...
Interview with Indian director Leslie Carvalho by film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 01.03.2024
Leslie Carvalho is a multifaceted personality of Indian independent cinema. Apart from being a filmmaker, Leslie also happens to be a professional Tennis coach, German language teacher, painter and a book writer. He has been on India’s national jury for choosing films for ‘Indian Panorama’ section of India’s most prestigious film festival ‘IFFI’. He ha...
1) Abhaas (1997) directed by Bijaya Jena. This is an interesting ‘‘auteur’’ film by Ms. Bijaya Jena who has won India’s national award twice. It is based on a 3 pages long short story by famous Odia writer Rabi Das. This is a classic film that is set in 1951 and talks about deprivation, marginalization, sexual exploitation and neglect of a weak woman. It talks about the Zamindari system in which a landlord exercises complete control over a village. Apart from direct...
Review of American film ‘‘Killers of the Flower Moon’’ (2023) directed by Martin Scorcese by film critic © Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) 01/11/2023
‘‘Killers of the Flower Moon’’ (2023) is certainly not the best film of Martin Scorcese's career nor his best film in last 10 years.
What happens when a new film by an acclaimed director is released in cinemas? Let us analyze some common possi...
Vijay Anand's film ‘‘Guide’’ (1965) remains one of the most admirable classics of Hindi cinema that promoted secular values, emancipation of women and a philosophical approach to songs.
Hindi film ‘‘Guide’’ (1965) can be hailed as the first major, effective collaboration between an Indian writer writing in English and Hindi film industry. It is based on the novel by RK Narayan that won the prestigious Sahitya Academy A...
‘‘Barbie’’ directed by Greta Gerwig film review © Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) 10.08.2023
Audiences and critics will remember ‘‘Barbie’’ for a long time as a light-hearted film that came at a time when the entire world was going gaga over big films such as Oppenheimer and MI-dead reckoning part one.
It is said that most children play with toys in their childhood. However, there are also a lot of people who never got to play with toys especi...
It was with an Austrian film ‘‘Alma and Oskar’’ directed by Dieter Berner that 53rd International Film Festival of India 2022 got off to a good start. It is a film about one of the greatest expressionist artists of the 20th century Oskar Kokoschka who dominated the world of painting in Austria during 1900s. In the history of IFFI, it was for the first time that an Austrian film was chosen as the opening film. Apart from the director Dieter Berner, the film’s produ...
Christopher Nolan's film ''Oppenheimer'' (2023) is a heady mix of espionage, history, politics and suspense !!!!
A film review by © film critic Mr.Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI)
Oppenheimer is a different type of a biopic. It doesn’t aim to glorify the protagonist’s achievements. It has taken a neutral stance in which care has been taken to delineate both Oppenheimer’s achievements and weaknesses. While watching this film, viewers learn why Oppenheimer&rsquo...
Book Review ‘‘Film Appreciation’’ written by Mr. Utpal Dutta and translated by Dr. Dipshikha Bhagawati © Mr. Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 28.05.2022.
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Indian film ‘‘The Tree full of parrots’’ (2021, Malayalam language) directed by Jayaraj talks about compassion which is vanishing from society © Mr.Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) 27.05.2022
Cinema as an art form is important in India as more than 1000 films are made annually. Indian cinema is one of those rare national cinemas which has challenged the hegemony of Hollywood. Cinema as an industry gives numerous opportunities to various indigenous film industries to mak...
Nationalism and patriotism in Hindi cinema © Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 15.04.2022)
In contemporary times, there is hardly anybody who can deny the continuing potency of nationalism by observing the political events which shape today’s world. Nationalism refers to a doctrine which holds that national identity ought to be accorded political recognition. According to this doctrine, all nations have rights to aut...
Indian academician, actor and director Akash Khurana’s third film ‘‘The River of love’’ celebrates the greatness of the river Ganges !!!!© Mr.Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 26.02.2022
Kumbh Mela is one of the biggest Hindu festivals which is celebrated every three years. It's a pilgrimage that devotees take in the hope of washing away their sins of the past lives. The ‘Kumbh Mela’ is the largest of all human gathering...
The invisible visible : A poignant look at India’s destitute and homeless who must be protected at all costs against the draconian anti beggary laws : © A review by film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 13.02.2022
Poverty is a serious global problem that occurs when a person does not have adequate financial resources to meet basic needs. Though poverty generally refers to the lack of income or wealth, it can also be described as a condition preventing an indivi...
Girish Kasaravalli's film ‘‘Can Neither Stay Here, Nor Journey Beyond’’ depicts how archaic societal norms render human existence miserable !!!!
Kannada Film ‘‘Illiralare Allige Hogalare’’ directed by Girish Kasaravalli. A review by film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 04.02.2021
Childhood is the most important stage in a human being’s life. It is an age where one is relatively free from worries. This is the reason why most hu...
''Hasyam'' : An ingeniously amusing film by veteran Malayalam director Jayaraj which deals with ''death' as a serious business albeit in a pleasantly humorous vein !!!! 02/02/2021 © Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI)
‘‘The denial of death’’ written in 1973 by famous American cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker is one of the few great books of 20th century. It discusses the most fundamental problem of mankind, ‘the fear of deat...
Shameless : A unique short film which underscores the importance of the adage ‘Respect for all’ as the cornerstone of all human interactions !!!! Indian short film ‘‘Shameless’’ directed by Keith Gomes reviewed by film critic Mr. Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) 29.01.2021.
Each day thousands of people come to Mumbai in search of jobs. Each one of them wishes ...
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‘Ashes on a road trip’’: An independent ‘road movie’ which highlights the importance of the joint family system !!!!
© Mr. Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) 24.01.2021 [ibdpibo@gmail.com/lalitrao@gmail.com]
Collin English dictionary defines the term ''Road Movie'' as a genre of film in which the chief character is on the run or travelling in search of, or to escape from, himself or herself. It is a subgenre of the &lsq...
Interest in wine and wine making has always fascinated humanity since olden times. However, this fascination has taken a completely new turn in contemporary times especially in an international market governed by numerous socio-economic concerns. This is one reason why there is always room for news as well as ‘works of art’ about anything related to wine. One can quote China's acquisition of 100 Bordeaux chateaux as a recent example. It can be stated that Asia’s dominance...
“Yesterday’s films for tomorrow” by P.K.Nair = An indispensable book for anybody who considers cinema as an art form which needs to be preserved at all costs.
© Mr.Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI)
“Yesterday’s films for tomorrow” has been penned by one of world’s foremost authority on film archiv...
The world of cinema is full of surprises. One needs to learn the intricacies involved with this art in order to transform words into images. Hence, it is not so often that an ordinary layman can think of embarking on a creative journey in order to become a filmmaker merely by watching some good Iranian and Turkish films shown at film festivals. However, Bijukumar Damodaran is a very strong exception to this rule. In his native Kerala, South India, he is more commonly known as Dr.Biju. &n...
In recent times, if one were to discuss key events related to politics and society in India, most people are likely to evoke the assassination of Indian prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards and subsequent violence perpetrated against Sikh community in Indian subcontinent. It was a grim chapter of post independence Indian history when old friends turned into mortal foes. These two tragic events form the backdrop of a new Indian documentary film “When the sun di...
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