'Provoked' to open Indian festival
by: Shalini Dore
- variety.com
Aishwarya Rai starrer "Provoked" will open the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles on April 17. The festival will close on April 22 with Berlin prize winner "Vanaja."
The fest, which takes place at ArcLight Hollywood, will also honor Bollywood actress Deepti Naval.
Directed by Jag Mundra, "Provoked," is the story of a battered woman (Rai) who is imprisoned in the U.K. for killing her husband. It also stars Naveen Andrews ("Lost"), Miranda Richardson, Robbie Coltrane, Rebecca Pidgeon and Nandita Das.
IFFLA will close with "Vanaja," which earned helmer Rajnesh Domrapalli the debut feature prize at Berlin last month. It stars Mamatha Bhukya, Urmila Dammannagari and Ramachandriah Markanti and centers around a young girl (Bhukiya) who struggles to overcome class barriers and learn classical Indian dance. Emerging Pictures will release the film in the U.S. this summer.
Three of Naval's pics will be screened as part of the fest's tribute to her - "Kamla," "Panchavati" and "Mirch Masala." The actress is also a poet and photog and wrote and directed the TV series, "Thodasa Aasmaan."
Opening night gala is set for Ivar featuring the Bombay Dub Orchestra Performing and Taal Dance Company; closing night gala will be at Hollywood and Highland.
The entire fest lineup will be announced Monday.
Time Warner Cable and Sony are among the fest sponsors.
For more information, please see the festival's official site or more specifically, purchase tickets on ArcLight Cinemas's Website.
Related Links:
03/18/07 Two films, two struggles - business-standard.com
03/08/07 Poignant biography 'Provoked' to be released in April
03/08/07 SET acquires global satellite rights for Provoked
03/05/07 Exclusive premieres lead this year's Tongues on Fire
02/21/07 'Ash has gone way beyond her other roles'
02/16/07 Aishwarya starrer Provoked certified 'U/A'
02/09/07 Controversial films finally hit screens
02/09/07 Mundhra: Aishwarya was not the star on my sets
01/08/07 Gulshan plays Ash's hubby! - indiatimes.com
12/29/06 Rai ka tadka! - mumbaimirror.com
12/17/06 Provoked and Ash's quest for the West - ibnlive.com
12/17/06 Provoked: When a woman is pushed too far
Mundhra to discuss 'Provoked' at University of Leicester
