FTII to screen ‘Lagaan’ on I-Day

FTII to celebrate Independence Day, with the screening of three films with patriotism as the prime motif

Film and Television Institute of India, Pune is holding a special Independence Day celebration. As part of the celebration, the authorities have organised a three-day film festival, with one film screening every day. The highlight of this festival is the screening of ‘Lagaan’, officials confirmed.

According to Chandrashekhar Joshi, the Film Research Officer at FTII, the institute is to celebrate ‘Azadi Sattar Saal Yaad Karo Kurbani’ through the screening of films devoted to patriotism. The three movies selected for the festival are ‘1921’, a Malayalam historical movie, ‘Rang De Basanti’ and ‘Lagaan’. According to the official mailer, ‘Lagaan’ has been described as a “masterpiece, set in the 19th century British-India, portrays battle with the unfair rulers, not with guns but a bat-and-ball”

Students are skeptical about this, while authorities maintain it is a part of Independence Day celebration. “It is the ongoing oppression on most universities that needs to be focused on. We welcome the film festival, but aren’t their other things to be looked into as well?” asked a student requesting anonymity. Meanwhile, the film screenings, starting from August 14 will be held in the main theatre of FTII, and will remain open to the public at no cost, till August 16.

gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

Originally published on The Golden Sparrow