Wed 01 Oct 6.30 pm
Film : Six Decades of Indian Cinema : Guide (1965, Hindi)
Introduction : Dev Anand, the legendary filmmaker and author of Romancing with Life.

Directed by Vijay Anand, starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman,Guide is based on R K Narayan’s critically acclaimed novel, The Guide,and is widely considered to be one of the masterpieces of the Indiancinema. Dev Anand plays Raju, who earns his living by taking visitorsto historic sites, meets a wealthy and ageing archaeologist, who has notime for his young wife Rosie. The music is composed by Sachin DevBurman and the memorable songs include gaata rahe mera dil, tere meresapne, kya se kya ho gaya, aaj phir jeene ki tamanna, piya tose naina,din dhal jaaye and wahan kaun hai tera. (183 min)

In collaboration with Satyajit Ray Foundation, for furtherinformation, please contact : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,(www.satyajitray.org.uk)

Wed 08 Oct 6.45 pm 

Film : Six Decades of Indian Cinema : Elepathayam (The Rat Trap, 1981) (Malayalam)

The head of a feudal Nair family, Unni is unable to cope with thechanging social conditions due to the decline of the feudal system inKerala. While his elder sister Janamma fights for her own family share,his younger sister Rajamma serves him like a slave. Confronted withadverse conditions, Unni withdraws like a rat into a dark hole.Directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan starring Sridevi, Karamana JanardhananNair, Sharada, Jalaja and Rajam K Nair, Elepathayam won the BritishFilm Institute award and also won the State award for best film in1981. (116 min)

In collaboration with Satyajit Ray Foundation, for furtherinformation, please contact : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,(www.satyajitray.org.uk)

Wed 29 Oct 6.45 pm
Film : Six Decades of Indian Cinema : Lagaan : Once Upon A Time (2000, Hindi & English)

The third Hindi film to be nominated for the Academy Award for BestForeign Language Film (after Mother India in 1957 and Salaam Bombay! in1989), is based on an original story by Ashutosh Gowarikar, starringAamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne.The film gathered critical acclaim and awards at several internationalfilm festivals, and became one of the biggest hits of the summer. Setin the Victorian period of the British Raj, it revolves around thepeasants from a barren village who are oppressed by high taxes imposedby the British. When the peasants attempt to persuade the officers toreduce the taxes, one senior official offers them to cancel their taxesfor three years if their village team beats them at cricket. Thevillagers face the arduous task of learning the game and playing for aresult that will change their village's destiny. (215 min)

Introduction : David Robinson, currently serving on the Jury of theChicago Film Festival, is a great admirer of Satyajit Ray. His book onChaplin has been hailed as ‘One of the great cinema books’. Hiscollections of early-cinema apparatus and film posters have been thesubject of a number of exhibitions throughout Europe. His books includeWorld Cinema, Hollywood in the Twenties and Buster Keaton. Incollaboration with Satyajit Ray Foundation, for further information,please contact : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (www.satyajitray.org.uk)