The 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is not merely a convergence of global cinematic excellence; it is a celebration of the rich diversity of regional films that emanate from the diverse corners of our nation. In keeping with its cherished tradition of honoring regional cinema, IFFI 54 has meticulously curated dedicated days for segmented screening of films from various languages of India.
Commencing today, the regional films started rolling with a mesmerising array of films from Eastern India in the Indian Panorama section. Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Manipuri, and various North Eastern dialects took centre stage in this vibrant bouquet today. Baruar Xongxar (Assamese film)directed by Utpal Borpujari, Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw (Mizo film) directed by Shilpika Bordoloi, The Sea and Seven Villages (Odia film) directed by Himanshu Sekhar Khatua, Ardhangini (Bengali film) directed by Kaushik Ganguly are some of the regional films that were screened today at various venues of IFFI.
As the festival unfolds, a cinematic journey across the country with the following schedule is promised:
November 23rd: South 1: Tamil & Malayalam
November 24th: North: Punjabi, Dogri, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Urdu, Chattisgarhi
November 25th: West: Konkani, Marathi, Gujarati
November 26th: South 2: Kannada & Telugu
Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan-2 directed by iconic director Mani Ratnam and Malayalam film Kaathal-The Core directed by award winning director Jeo Baby will be screened tomorrow (23.11.2023) at IFFI. Based on the novel of the same name by Kalki Krishnamurthy, Ponniyin Selvan narrates the tragic love story of Chola dynasty prince Adithya Karikalan and a poor orphaned temple girl Nandini. Their childhood romance was torn apart by the royals. As young Nandini was banished from the lands to keep her away from Karikalan, Prince Karikalan has been a mad man ever since. Later in the story, Nandini plots against the royal princes and Emperor Sundara Chozhar to exact revenge for the slaying of the Pandya King Veerapandian. She infiltrates the Cholas by marrying the Chola treasurer Periya Pazhuvettarayar and creates a machiavellian scheme. What follows is a historical-royal- political pot boiler of succession, power struggle, revenge, vengence, love and the survival of the Chola Dynasty.
Kaathal-The Core starringveteran Malayalam actor Mammootty explores the politics of society’s mindset towards homosexuals. The main protagonist in the film George Devassy is a decorated official who recently retired from a Co- operative Bank and lives with his wife Omana, his daughter Femi and George’s father, Devassi. On a Sunday morning, after church rituals, George decides to contest for the upcoming Panchayat Elections and gives his nomination. But to everyone’s shock, two days later his wife Omana files for a divorce in the family court stating that George is in a homosexual relationship for the last few years with Thankan, his friend who runs a driving school in the same village. The story follows the incidents happening in and outside the family and larger society following this allegation.
