Notes on Reel

City-based Aashaya Film Club and DSK group is organising a four day documentary festival to celebrate the centenary of Indian cinema at the National Film Archives of India (NFAI) from May 24 to May 27. The theme of the festival is ‘Rasikpriya Lokpriya’ where rare short films and documentaries of well known legendary music directors and renowned singers from film industry will be showcased. The festival will be inaugurated on May 24 by the hands of Pandit Sajan Mishra at 6 pm followed by a short film screening on Pandit Rajan-Sajan Mishra titled,’Advait Sangeet’. Two short films,Rasikpriya and Lokpriya,based on the tradition of Indian classical music and Hindi film music directed by Arun Khopkar would be showcased in the following session. Over 50 rare short films /documentaries will be showcased at NFAI and Kale Hall,Gokhale Institute from May 25-27. On May 25,noted music director Anand Modak will deliver a special talk on ‘Classical Music and Indian Cinema’ at Gokhale Institute from 6 pm onwards. Short films on O P Nayyar,Roshan and Mohammad Rafi would be shown on the occasion. On May 26,the event begins with a lecture by noted critic Ashok Rane at 11 am at NFAI on ‘World of Short Films’. Two films directed by Rane including ‘Singing in Cinema’ and ‘Anthony Gonsalves’ will also be screened in the festival. Pandit Vijay Sardeshmukh,noted classical singer and the disciple of Pandit Kumar Gandharva will be felicitated at the hands of Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. ‘Hans Akela’,a short film on Pandit Kumar Gandharva made by Dr Jabbar Patel will also be showcased on May 26 at 6pm at Gokhale Institute. The festival will conclude on May 27,with the presentation of ‘Rasikpriya Lokpriya’ award to classical singer Anand Bhate and Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumar. The award would be presented at the hands of veteran Sitar player Usman Khan. Short films on Bal Gandharva,Bharat Ratna Pt Bhimsen Joshi and Sudhir Phadke would be showcased from 6 pm onwards at Kale Hall.