The National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) will unveil two major new feature films at the Cannes International Film Festival. The two films, both produced with financial assistance from the NFDC, explore important events from India's past, events that were to have far reaching consequences.
Since 1982 the NFDC has financed over 56 feature films, many of which have won prestigious international prizes, and has been involved in the production of such acclaimed international films as Gandhi and Salaam Bombay. With the recent international success of such films as Bandit Queen and Bombay and the 50th anniversary of Indian independence in 1947, there is an increasing level of international interest in the Indian film industry, that is also tackling subjects of national and international relevance.
Screening this year at Cannes are Shyam Benegal's The Making of the Mahatma, Saeed Akhtar Mirza's Naseem and B Subhash's Latin Lovers.
The Making of the Mahatma is an epic story of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's life in South Africa. His journey to the country in 1893 was to prove a turning point in his life, experiencing racism and the oppressive nature of colonialism.
It was during these years in South Africa that Gandhi formulated his strategies and his creed of Satyagraha - non-violent, truthful action - that would in 1947 free India from colonial rule.
Naseem, the hit of the Delhi Film Festival, tells the powerful story of how the effects of the 1992 riots affected one family and, in particular, their 15-year-old daughter. On 6 December 1992, riots erupted following the destruction of the medieval mosque at Ayodhya by those who believed that this was the birthplace of Lord Rama. The ensuing riots, slaughter and savagery have become a stain on India's recent past.
Naseem, a Muslim girl, shares a special relationship with her grandfather, an ailing retired teacher and erudite scholar. He attempts to infuse a sense of poetry, history and music into her life, recalling a disappearing culture and systems of values that are being eroded by powers of political opportunism, economic pragmatism and cultural hedonism. Although these forces seem remote to Naseem's life she cannot ignore their effect as she is swept up by the forces of hatred that engulf the country.
Divine Lovers is an erotic drama starring Maxwell Caulfield, Richard Lynch and Shannon McLeod. Troubled by disturbing dreams Jeff Thompson undergoes a course of regression that leads him to believe that he may be the reincarnation of the boy of his dreams. To seek out the truth he travels to the historic Khajuraho, site of the ancient temples and their world famous erotic sculptures, where he is employed by the wealthy prince Kabir to construct a luxury hotel. Jeff soon finds his dreams merging with reality as he begins a torrid affair with Kabir's beautiful wife. In doing so the lovers risk everything, including their lives.
© 1996 - MOVING PICTURES INTERNATIONAL
