NYIFF to celebrate Shabana Azmi's 50-year career with 'Fire' screening
The prestigious New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) is set to honor the distinguished 50-year career of Indian veteran actor Shabana Azmi. The festival, slated for next month, will showcase a diverse array of 49 films. Among these are narratives, documentaries, and shorts featuring cinema luminaries like Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah. The 24th NYIFF will run from May 31 to June 2.
Special screening of Azmi's 'Fire' at NYIFF
To celebrate Azmi's significant contributions to Indian and global cinema over the past five decades, NYIFF will host a special event. This will feature a screening of her 1996 film Fire, directed by Deepa Mehta. In a statement, Azmi expressed, "I have been associated with the NYIFF since its inception...I am happy that my 50th year is being celebrated at the NYIFF and I look forward to it."
Azmi's remarkable career and social activism
Azmi, who debuted in Shyam Benegal's Ankur (1974), has had an extraordinary career, earning her five National Film Awards and international recognition. The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient has appeared in over 140 Hindi films and 12 international productions. She was last seen in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The festival also praised Azmi's commitment to social activism, particularly advocating for women's rights and the underprivileged, describing it as "truly inspiring."
NYIFF showcases the diversity of modern Indian cinema
Organized by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), the festival will kick off with Dear Jassi, a film by Indian-American director Tarsem Singh. The closing film will be Mrs., featuring Sanya Malhotra and directed by Arati Kadav. Other key attractions comprise The Umesh Chronicles, featuring Bachchan and Vivek Gomber under the direction of filmmaker Pooja Kaul, Shah's appearance in the short film Khidki, the documentary Merchant Ivory, and Tannishtha Chatterjee starring in American filmmaker Wendy Bednarz's debut feature Yellow Bus.
NYIFF to showcase films in 12 languages
This year's NYIFF will showcase films in 12 Indian languages. The festival was established in 2001 by Aroon Shivdasani in collaboration with the IAAC. It showcases around 40 films, spanning various genres such as feature films, shorts, documentaries, and animated films. Notable figures like Mira Nair, Salman Rushdie, Padma Lakshmi, Azmi, and Mehta are frequent attendees of the festival.
