Bollywood film festival at UH Hilo

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Contact:
Alyson Kakugawa-Leong, (808) 974-7642
Director, Media Relations, University Relations
Posted: Apr 1, 2011

The English department and the students of English 469 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo invite the public to a series of modern Indian films that showcase issues of gender, class and national identity.

The festival kicks off April 13 with "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" (2006) starring Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan. This film takes a comedic look at life in urban Mumbai, pitting the forces of development and capitalism against the morals and principles of Gandhi.

On April 20, "Devdas" (2002) features Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. This is a modernized urban remake of Bismal Roy's 1955 film, which follows a man’s descent into alcoholism and the two women who defined his life. The film is based on the novel by Bengal renaissance writer Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.

On April 27, "Monsoon Wedding" (2001) is an English-language film by Mira Nair that explores arranged marriage, women's sexuality and class/caste from the perspective of the overseas Indian diaspora.

On May 4, "Water" (2005) is a controversial look at the practice of child marriage and the exploitation of widows as sex workers in the era preceding independence. The final film in a trilogy by Deepa Metha, "Water" was shot in Sri Lanka due to protests from the Hindu community in Varanasi, where it was originally set.

Screenings are in UCB 114 on the UH Hilo campus from 5:30 to 9 p.m. A 15-minute introduction by students on the key issues of interest for the audience will precede each film.

Admission is free, but seating is limited to the first 50 people.