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The pace of life is getting faster day by day. It leaves us no room for an afternoon siesta and a family screening of films every evening on TV. Our generation is essentially deriving its pleasures from various streaming service providers’ subscriptions readily accessible on our smartphones at all hours. But our endeavors often lead us to an alley of confusion on what to watch, especially when it comes to Hindi films which continue to rule our hearts. However, they are somewhere lost in the crowd of tons of web series/shows, films, and international content. With the advent of Ott, which has revolutionized how we see movies, the streaming giant Netflix has given a resurgence to low-budget Bollywood movies, which could hardly find screens in the competitive market.

Related Read: Changes in Bollywood in 10 Years

While Netflix instilled hope in several upcoming filmmakers, by promising them an environment of unhindered storytelling,...

Apparently ‘Charandas Chor’ was earlier made in 1975, as a children’s film by noted director Shyam Benegal, based on the legendary playwright Habib Tanvir‘s play, which itself was an adaptation of a classical Rajasthani folktale by Vijaydan Detha. The lyrics of the film were also by Habib Tanvir. The film starred Smita Patil, Lalu Ram, Madanlal and Habib Tanvir.

Now, as a tribute to the iconic playwright Habib Tanvir on his centenary, Karmic Films Private Limited has announced its acquisition of the rights to the theatrical masterpiece ‘Charandas Chor’, with plans to bring this timeless masterpiece to the silver screen, capturing its brilliance and social commentary for a new generation of audience.

Originating in 1975, “Charandas Chor” is a timeless gem by the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, Habib Tanvir. Renowned globally for its compelling narrative for its brilliance, the play received the prestigious Fringe First award at the...

Folklore, feminism and film noir come together in Pushpendra Singh’s meticulously crafted fourth feature “The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs.” Set in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region in Northwest India, this moody fable about an unhappy young bride plotting her escape from tradition and patriarchy is a gripping character study that stutters slightly in the latter stages before producing a magical finale that no-one will forget in a hurry. Singh’s beautifully shot film has traveled extensively on the festival circuit and picked up awards at Hong Kong and Jeonju since debuting at Berlin in 2020. Specialty distributor partners Deaf Crocodile Films and Gratitude Films have acquired the film for U.S. release.

Singh’s penetrating study of toxic patriarchy and female identity is based on a short story by Vijayadan Detha, the acclaimed Rajasthani author known for bringing modern and often provocative sensibilities to folk tales. Singh previously...

Pushpendra Singh’s debut feature Lajwanti (The Honour Keeper), based on the story by late Rajasthani author Vijaydan Detha, will have its world premiere in the Forum section of the Berlin International Film Festival on February 10. The actor-turned-director talks to DearCinema about the journey of Lajwanti:

Lajwanti premieres at Berlinale Forum

You are an Ftii trained actor. You have worked as an actor for Amit Dutta (Aadmi Ki Aurat aur Anya Kahaniya) and later assisted him (Nainsukh) and Anup Singh (Qissa) in their films. What led to this transition?

I think it was natural. An actor is constantly directing himself by giving choices while preparing for a role. Acting in films never happens in isolation. An actor has to be aware about how the camera is relating to him, how the shot is going to be edited or whether his tone is on the right note or not. I...

T he 64th edition of Berlin International Film Festival that kicks off today has strong Indian presence with ten Indian films screening in various sections. The festival will be held from February 6-16, 2014.

Imtiaz Ali’s Highway and Jayan Cherian’s Papilio Buddha, which is in contention for the Teddy Award, will be screened in the Panorama section.

Pushpendra Singh’s Lajwanti, K. Hariharan and Mani Kaul’s Ghashiram Kotwal (1976) and Jessica Sadana & Samarth Dikshit’s Prabhat Pheri will be screened in the Forum section.

The Forum Expanded section will see the screening of Blood Earth directed by Kush Badhwar and Mount Song directed by Shambhavi Kaul.

Avinash Arun’s Killa and Gaurav Saxena’s Rangzen will be screened in the Generation K Plus section, targeted at children and young audience of the festival.

Satyajit Ray’s Nayak will be screened as a part of the Berlinale Classics section.

Here...

Lajwanti (The Honour Keeper) directed by Pushpendra Singh has been selected for the 44th edition of the Berlinale Forum, a section of the Berlin International Film Festival that showcases independent, artistic filmmaking with a disregard for convention. Berlinale Forum will screen twenty-eight world and eight international premieres this year.

Lajwanti was part of Market Recommendations at Nfdc Film Bazaar last year. Based on a folk tale set in the Thar desert by Rajasthani writer Vijaydan Detha, the film explores the inner struggles of a married woman to honour a dream and in that search find the higher meaning of love and freedom.

A trained actor from the Film and Television Institute of India (Ftii), Pushpendra Singh has acted in films like Amit Dutta’s Aadmi ki aurat aur anya kahaniya and Nainsukh. He has also assisted Dutta in Nainsukh and The Seventh Walk. Lajwanti marks his feature debut after recently assisting Anup Singh on Qissa.

A still from Duvidha

Dd Loksabha will telecast Mani Kaul’s Duvidha on Saturday at 9 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. This will be uninterrupted viewing without commercial breaks.

Mani Kaul, Indian experimental filmmaker who passed away on July 6, 2011, won a National Award for Best Director for Duvidha. Based on a story by Vijayadan Detha that relates a popular folktale from Rajasthan, the film features Ravi Menon and Raisa Padamsee.

The restored version of Duvidha will also be screened at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in September.