Actualités

Veteran actor Farooq Sheikh passed away in Dubai this morning after suffering a heart attack. He was 65.Farooq Sheikh made his debut in the 1973 film, Garm Hava. He had acted in more than 50 films and was known for his roles in films like Saath Saath, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Chashme Baddoor, Noorie and Bazaar. He was the host of the famous television talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam hai'He was recently seen playing Ranbir Kapoor's father in Yeh Jaawani Hai Deewani. His last film...

Abu Dhabi, Nov 2: Away from home, yet so near - thanks to movies. NRIs, mostly middle-aged, used the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff) platform to catch up on classics like "Pyaasa" and "Garm Hava" as well as new ones like "Qissa" and "Goynar Baksho". Meeting a star like Irrfan Khan was a huge draw too!

The curiosity and excitement in the air was evident from the word go.

For many, the festival, which celebrated the centenary year of Indian cinema with a special programme of five classics, was a rare chance to watch the old films on the big screen.

The bouquet offered Guru Dutt's "Pyaasa", M.S. Sathyu's "Garm Hava", Jahnu Barua's Assamese film "Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai", Ritwak Ghatak's Bengali film "Subarnarekha".

Abu Dhabi, Oct 26: Legendary filmmaker M.S. Sathyu has watched his film "Garm Hava" countless times in almost 40 years since it was made. Each time, the movie, based in post-independence era, leaves him emotionally charged. At the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff) here, it was no different.

The audience joined him in his sentiment post the screening, which set the ball rolling for the 'Celebrating Indian Cinema' special programme of the fest as a mark of Indian cinema's centenary year.

They listened to Sathyu's predicament in making a film which was "more sympathetic to the Muslim community, managing it on a `beggar's budget' and fighting the Indian censors.

"This film is a bit heavy on the heart. I don't know.

Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2013, to be held from October 24-November 2, will celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema by screening a select programme of five Indian films in a special sidebar.

Referred to by some as “India’s Orson Welles”, Guru Dutt is regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time. Time’s All Time 100 Best Movies (2005) lists two of Guru Dutt’s films. Adff will screen one of them, Eternal Thirst (Pyaasa), the story of a poet struggling to be recognised in post-independence India.

Ritwak Ghatak’s 1965 neorealist film The Golden Thread (Subarnarekha) will also screen as part of the programme. Although Ghatak was not widely recognised at the time of his death, Ghatak’s work has been celebrated posthumously and his impact on other filmmakers, such as Mani Kaul, has been widely recognised. In Two Minds (Duvidha), which was directed by Ghatak’s student Mani Kaul in 1973, will also be screened.

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival is to host sidebar programmes for restored classics and Indian cinema.

‘Celebrating Indian Cinema’ will include Guru Dutt’s Eternal Thirst, Ritwak Ghatak’s 1965 neorealist film The Golden Thread, Mani Kaul 1973 feature In Two Minds and Garm Hawa’s Scorching Winds.

Sidebar ‘Pieces of Time: Classic Odysseys. The Art of Preserving and Restoring Cinema’ will include Dial M for Murder, Once Upon a Time in the West, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Red Shoes and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The festival runs from Oct 24 to Nov 2.