Over the next three days, the Festival showcased the best of South Asian independent cinema to packed audiences at Showplace Icon Theater and Film Row Cinema at Columbia College Chicago. Moviegoers especially enjoyed hearing the various artists and filmmakers talk about their films and performances in the post film discussions. “Doggoned” director Arshad Khan described how his lead actress almost got arrested as they filmed without a permit in the streets of Montreal. Actor Adil Hussain got a standing ovation for his performance in “Lessons in Forgetting”, a film based on Anita Nair’s book of the same name.

The highlight of the Festival was undoubtedly the world premiere of “Listen Amaya” starring the magical yester-year pairing of Farooq Shaikh and Deepti Naval. Director Avinash Kumar Singh’s debut film played to a sold out theater with numerous people sitting on the aisle floors to watch the tale of a daughter coming to grips with her widow mother’s relationship with a man who is not her father. “I desperately missed having my friend, confidante, editor, writer and wife Geeta sitting beside me as she has done all the way through this film” – said Singh in a touching acknowledgement to his wife.

If the Festival began with a glamorous affair, the closing was no less sensational with Bollywood star Raveena Tandon attending the premiere of her film “Shobhna’s 7 Nights”. “We’ve made this film with a lot of love, not money” quipped the charming Tandon before the adoring audience.

A special panel on entertainment law was also held during the festival with one of Chicago’s premiere entertainment lawyers Robert Labate explaining the legal aspects of independent filmmaking. “We’ve found our stride as a Festival this year and truly elevated it to a world class event. We’ve got some interesting initiatives in store for 2013 and are looking forward to developing them in the coming year” said Festival Director Amit Rana.

download full press release

The Festival opens with the North American premiere of Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine starring Kareena Kapoor. The film is a bold, shocking, yet sensitive look behind the scenes of the glitz and glamour Indian film stars reside.

The centerpiece film is the world premiere of Listen Amaya starring acclaimed actors Deepti Naval and Farooq Shaikh. The film by debutante director Avinash Kumar Singh tells the story of a daughter, Amaya, and her widow mother who begins to develop a relationship with Amaya’s friend played by Farooq Shaikh. Closing out the Festival is the world premiere of Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon’s comeback film, Shobhna’s 7 Nights. The actress is expected to attend the screening in Chicago.

The lineup also consists of I Am Kalam director Nila Madhab Panda’s new movie Jalpari: The Desert Mermaid. The film was recently screened at the Marché Du Cannes and is based on the issue of female foeticide. “After seeing the film, people will get entertained and get a message too.” Panda said of his film in a recent interview. Three regional films are also playing at the Festival this year: the Marathi film Masala, Bengali film Runaway, and the Malayalam film Abu Son of Adam which was India’s official entry to the 84^th Academy Awards. Shabana Azmi-starrer A Decent Arrangement, Delhi in a Day, Lessons in Forgetting, Rat Race and Gattu round off the features.

“We wanted to bring about different layers of South Asian cinema by tracking South Asian content produced commercially or independently both within and outside the subcontinent.” said Programming Director Mili Ghosh. The short-length films cover a variety of genres and topics. While Oscar nominated Raju explores the perils of adoption, Girl and the Auto Rickshaw tells a hilarious story of a sexist rickshaw that leaves its driver frustrated. The 5 and Fatakara, which was nominated for a student Academy Award, echo themes from the Indian mythology Mahabharata. Two shorts come from the United Kingdom: My Lad and The New Brit which is about a Pakistani-Brit who has to stand up to his father and London’s racial undertones as he aspires to become a journalist.

“There’s something for everyone. From learning about rat killers in India to watching socially relevant films about female feoticide, imported wives and in a more entertaining form watching a woman-centric film ‘Heroine‘ which reveals the underbelly of the Hindi film industry and it’s well kept secrets” added Ghosh.

Major sponsors include Comcast, Star Gold, and Columbia College Chicago.

download full press release

The CSAFF 2011 opening night, held on September 30, was a true red carpet affair with stunning celebrities, enthusiastic press and hundreds of admiring fans. Several highly accomplished filmmakers and artists including Nandana Sen, Nila Madhab Panda, Geeta Malik, Pankaj Johar and Sandeep Sharma were in attendance. Chicago Film Office Director Rich Moskal and Alderman Ameya Pawar were also present for the gala to show his support.

Kicking off the festival was Ketan Mehta’s ‘Rang Rasiya’. The audiences found a perfect blend of contemporary relevance, universal appeal and cinematic exuberance in the movie. In the Q&A session for the film, actress Nandana Sen spoke of her portrayal of Sugandha, Painter Raja Ravi Varma’s muse and how he created a fascinating world of romanticism through his paintings of Indian women.

In a letter to the CSAFF team, Mayor Rahm Emanuel wrote “This Festival creates an innovative cultural and cinematic experience for Chicagoans and visitors alike and I would like to commend the South Asian Film Festival for its dedication to our South Asian community.”

Over the next two days, audiences showed up in the hundreds for the rest of the film screenings. The culturally diverse crowd enjoyed film screenings at Columbia College Chicago as well as the Chicago Cultural Center. Moviegoers appreciated how accessible the actors and filmmakers were even after the formal sessions. In his Q&A session, Pankaj Johar, the producer of ‘Shuttlecock Boys’ joked about how couldn’t afford taking city permissions for their tight-on-a-budget film. He then added how their personal struggles with being an independent filmmaker had inspired the script.

The centerpiece film, ‘I Am Kalam’ was a true celebration of the human spirit. When asked about the Oscar buzz surrounding the film, Director Nila Madhab Panda expressed how he wanted to make a happy film about a rather serious subject. He wanted to stray from the poverty stricken images of India and showcase the issue through the ignited eyes of a child.

For ‘I Am’, the closing night piece, filmmaker Sonali Gulati joined the Q&A session via video-conferencing. The audience was captured by her own story of coming out to the world, and by the stories of many other LGBT individuals and their families, profiled in the documentary.

Two industry panel discussions were also held during the festival: one on South Asian Emergence in US Media and the other on Filming in Chicago: Past, Present & Future. This engaging and educative programming got the actors, filmmakers as well as the CSAFF team involved. Another high note of the festival was a free tabla concert by Tālavya. Their high-energy classical tabla acts with a modern twist kept the audience cheering on the edge of their seats.

download full press release

Kicking off the festival is Rang Rasiya, from director Ketan Mehta. This Randeep Hooda- Nandana Sen starrer offers a compelling look at the life and work of 19th century Indian painter, Raja Ravi Verma. The opening night red carpet event and gala will be held on Friday, September 29, 2011, at the Chicago Cultural Center and will be adorned by the film’s cast along with many other prominent South Asian and Bollywood celebrities.

The centerpiece film, I Am Kalam, celebrates the human spirit, specifically that of a child’s struggle against all odds to receive an education. The closing night film, I Am, is a very personal story of lesbian filmmaker Sonali Gulati, who returns home to confront the loss of her mother whom she never came out to, showing us the true meaning of family by interviewing the parents of other gay and lesbian Indians.

The lineup cuts across a variety of genres, such as comedy, drama, romance, fantasy, and yes, reality. While pieces such as XXWhy and Jason touch upon LGBT issues, shorts like Do I? and Have I Shared Too Much? provide a fresh perspective on how a lot of us “connect” with each other these days. Made in Pakistan gives audiences a view of the country’s citizens that may not quite fit with what we’re used to seeing in the media, while Ring Laila, from local filmmaker Anu Rana, profiles aspiring female boxers in India. While In the Name of the Family will give you a chilling account of honor killings in the Western hemisphere, the team from Pennywise Films shows us about inspiration, in Shuttlecock Boys, and Still Standing. Finally, stories and concepts like Return Address and The Eggie Files remind us that being a South Asian artist doesn’t necessarily require you to create something about only that culture. The carefully handpicked films for CSAFF 2011 will have something everyone can either relate to, or at least learn from.

“We were extremely happy with our lineup when we selected these films, and we’re even more excited for you to see them. It’s time to get inspired!” said Mileen Patel, Programming Director.

The festival has added another day of free movies and audiences can watch even more free films at the Chicago Cultural Center. Keeping in tune with the goals of the festival to create a film market place, the special panels and workshops open for both moviegoers and moviemakers will be soon announced.

download full press release

After an overwhelming response for CSAFF 2010, the festival team is already planning on making this year even bigger and better. The programming committee is now inviting all filmmakers to submit their films starting March 15th, 2011 thru June 15th, 2011.

“Given the success of last year’s festival, we are starting our submission process earlier so we can deliver the same quality programming that cuts across the entire spectrum of South Asian cinema. While we’re always looking for independent movies that appeal to broad audiences, we’re also making sure to keep an eye out for films and directors that push the envelope in terms of the stories that are told, the subjects that are covered, and the techniques utilized within the production. And also, like last year, there are no entry fees to submit.” said Mileen Patel, Programming Director.

With films like Ashes, The Japanese Wife and Seven Days in Slow Motion the previous year, they look forward to receiving a wide array of films for this year too. Festival selections will be announced by July 31st, 2011.

download full press release

The festival opened with Deepti Naval’s ‘Do Paise Ki Dhoop Chaar Aane Ki Baarish’ staring Manisha Koirala, Rajit Kapur, and Sanaj Naval. The film follows the relationship between Juhi, an ageing prostitute, and Debu, a gay lyricist, and their budding love for Juhi’s disabled son Kaku. The captivated audience flooded Naval and Kapur with questions on stereotypes and how they were able to break the mold.

After the screening, the evening’s festivities moved to the lavish Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall in the north wing of the Cultural Center where artists and guests mingled over divine hors d-oeuvres and toasted to the future of South Asian Cinema.

In a letter to the CSAFF team, Mayor Daley wrote “Chicago is home to a respected film community and we are proud to provide resources and support for our film makers. I applaud the Chicago South Asian Film Festival for your important work to promote South Asian films and filmmaking.”

Over the next two days, audiences showed up in the hundreds for the 15 other film screenings. The culturally diverse crowd enjoyed film screenings at Columbia College Chicago as well as the Chicago Cultural Center and outside the theaters, Chicago favorite Gaylord replaced traditional popcorn with samosas, pakodas, biryani and other mouth watering South Asian finger food. The moviegoers appreciated how accessible the actors and filmmakers were even after the formal sessions. In her Q&A session, nine-year-old Raspberry Magic actress Keya Shah captured the hearts of the audience with her witty and charismatic personality.

Ajay Naidu’s directorial debut ‘Ashes’ made its US premier at the festival as the center piece film. Ashes is a cautionary tale of mental illness, greed, and the definition of family both real and imagined. The story is a meditation on how easy it is to fall through the cracks of today’s health care system and how we ultimately find grace in the face of tragedy. After the sold-out show Naidu, Producer Nina Spensley and Actress Reena Shah had a Q&A with the audience. It was the one of the most personal Q&A interactions of the festival as Naidu spoke emotionally about how he drew inspiration from his life and experiences to make this film over the span of a decade.

“Both the film itself and the discussion afterward were very powerful. Ajay’s passion for many things- storytelling, social issues, and those near and dear to him, came through loud and clear on screen. When he talked with the audience, we all came away with an abundance of food for thought, to digest in our minds and in our hearts.” says Mileen Patel, Programming Director of CSAFF.

The festival showcased many documentaries, and one that got audiences really talking was Canada’s ‘Warrior Boyz’. The documentary took an unflinching look at the South Asian gang-related killings and violence in suburban Vancouver. It focused on the root causes of gang violence, and offered real solutions and a hard- fought hope for the future. Director Baljit Sangra spoke of her thought process behind her picking such a film at the Q&A.
The three-day festival came to a successful close with Umakanth Thumrugoti’s ‘7 Days in Slow Motion’ starring Rajeshwari Sachdev, Vivek Mushran, Teja, Shiva Varma, Kunal Sharma, and Ayesha Jaleel. The film about a young boy’s tinsel-town dreams in a typical middle class family was one of the most entertaining movies of the festival. In the interaction session, Producer Soumya Sriraman and Thumrugoti spoke of the film and its subtle hints about the business side behind movie making.

Also part of the festival was a Canon DSLR Workshop by Snehal Patel. The engaging and educative workshop got the actors, filmmakers as well as the CSAFF team involved.

“We are very grateful for the support we have received for this first festival. The event and experience far exceeded anything we could’ve imagined!” says Festival Director Amit Rana.

download full press release

Acclaimed art-house actor-turned-director Deepti Naval will walk the carpet for the Chicago Premiere of her ‘Two Paise for Sunshine Four Aanas for Rain’. The film, about a struggling gay lyricist, an ageing prostitute and her physically challenged 12-year-old son, opens the festival at 7pm at the Claudia Cassidy Theater. Celebrated Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala and award winning actor Rajit Kapur, who star in the film, are attending and will join Deepti for Q&A after the screening.

Another legend to grace the evening will be Aparna Sen, the director of the Japanese Wife. “(I’m) Excited, honored, privileged!” says Aparna about attending the inaugural festival.

Among others expected to show up are actor Ajay Naidu in his directorial debut of Ashes, award winning actress of Sardari Begum- Rajeshwari Sachdev, Raspberry Magic actors Ravi Kapoor & Keya Shah, and many more.

“Chicago doesn’t have many red carpet affairs like this and to be able to host such prominent filmmakers and artists from the South Asian film world is truly an honor. Opening night will celebrate the diaspora’s richness in the form of film, food and folk.” says Festival Director Amit Rana.

The evening’s festivities will conclude with an exclusive gala at the lavish Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall in the north wing of the Cultural Center where distinguished guests from across industries will toast to the richness of South Asian Cinema. Tantalizing hors d-oeuvres along with other refreshments will be served by Entertaining Company.

download full press release

“I feel very confident about our selections, as they represent a balanced view of what filmmakers want to showcase about South Asian culture, and they cover a variety of genres through features, shorts and documentaries. We chose these films based on the stories that are being told, the performances, and overall production value. For our first year, I think we have a great lineup.” said Mileen Patel, Programming Director. “As we begin the first of many festivals to come, we invite all of Chicago to join us in celebrating our culture, and in celebrating that which brings us all closer – our community.”

Kicking off the festival is the Chicago Premiere and directorial debut of Deepti Naval‘s TWO PAISE FOR SUNSHINE FOUR AANAS FOR RAIN, starring Manisha Koirala, Rajit Kapoor, and Sanaj Naval. The film about the mystery of human relationships and the search for happiness will find its audiences stirred and spellbound. The red carpet event will be held on Friday, October 1st, 2010, at the Chicago Cultural Center and will be adorned by the film’s cast along with many other prominent South Asian and Bollywood celebrities.
Making its US Premiere at the festival is Chicago native Ajay Naidu’s directorial debut ASHES starting himself, Faran Tahir, Heather Burns, Piper Perabo, and Firdous Bamji. “I feel deeply honored to have my film picked for the ‘first’ South Asian film fest of Chicago. I originally wanted to shoot this film on Devon but couldn’t make it happen. It is a very sweet homecoming for this story” said Ajay. “People should see it to know that the South Asian community is not just producing tinkerbell movies about cultural confusion but rather viable powerful stories about social issues. Ashes was very difficult to make and even more difficult to finish. I would like to share that effort with the people who are trying to tell stories through cinema. I want people to see it because it may help people get past their own guilt in the face of loss.”
The festival comes to a close with a movie about a child’s view of an often incomprehensible world; 7 DAYS IN SLOW MOTION is directed by Umakanth Thumrugoti and stars Teja, Kunal Sharma, Shiva Varma, Rajeshwari Sachdev, and Ayesha Jaleel.
For more information, including how to purchase tickets and festival passes, please visit www.csaff.org.

About CSAFF
The first Chicago South Asian Film Festival, presented by NetIP Chicago and Vachikam Inc., hosted by Columbia College Chicago and supported by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, will be held from October 1st through October 3rd, 2010. The festival was developed to promote South Asian culture throughout the Chicago area and Midwest by showcasing films by South Asians as well as films that represent the perspectives of the Diaspora. For more information on the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, please visit www.csaff.org.

About Network of Indian Professionals – Chicago
The Network of Indian Professionals Chicago (NetIP-Chicago) is a, non-profit, 501(c)(3) professional organization dedicated to the overall achievement and advancement of South Asian professionals. For more information, please visit www.netipchicago.org.

About Vachikam
Vachikam is committed to bringing greater awareness and appreciation of the Indian performing arts and culture to audiences in the United States and Canada. As a national and local promoter, Vachikam showcases the rich and diverse mosaic of Indian theatre by promoting accomplished artists in high-caliber drama, dance, and musical performances. Vachikam also draws upon its extensive network of artists to orchestrate special social occasions and benefits for the Indian-American community. For more information, visit www.vachikam.org.

About Columbia College Chicago
With more than 120 academic programs and nearly 12,500 students, Columbia College Chicago is the largest and most diverse private arts and media college in the nation. For more information, please visit www.colum.edu.

About Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center is one of the city’s most visited attractions and is home to many of its great public events which include free music, dance, and theater events, as well as films, lectures, art exhibitions and family events. For more information, please visit www.chicagoculturalcenter.org.

Major Sponsors
Major sponsors include Etihad Airways, Sheraton Chicago, Allegro Chicago— a Kimpton Hotel, and Comcast.

download full press release

The three-day experience kicks off with the opening night film at Chicago Cultural Center, a question and answer session with the producer and the actors, followed be an exclusive VIP gala event. Screenings on Saturday and Sunday will take place at Columbia College Chicago’s Film Row Cinema. As an added bonus, select films will be screened at the Chicago Cultural Center and admission will be free to the general public. The 2010 Chicago South Asian Film Festival will screen 15 films including feature films, shorts, and documentaries.

Additional offerings over the weekend include a special workshop “Hollywood Production with the Canon DSLR camera system” for those interested in learning how to use a Canon 5D/7D for film, television, and web production.

Major sponsors include Etihad Airways, Sheraton Chicago, Allegro Chicago— a Kimpton Hotel, and Comcast.
About Network of Indian Professionals – Chicago

The Network of Indian Professionals Chicago (NetIP-Chicago) is a, non-profit, 501(c)(3) professional organization dedicated to the overall achievement and advancement of South Asian professionals. For more information please visit www.netipchicago.org.

About Vachikam

Vachikam is committed to bringing greater awareness and appreciation of the Indian performing arts and culture to audiences in the United States and Canada. As a national and local promoter, Vachikam showcases the rich and diverse mosaic of Indian theatre by promoting accomplished artists in high-caliber drama, dance, and musical performances. Vachikam also draws upon its extensive network of artists to orchestrate special social occasions and benefits for the Indian-American community. For more information visit www.vachikam.org.

About Columbia College
With more than 120 academic programs and nearly 12,500 students, Columbia College Chicago is the largest and most diverse private arts and media college in the nation. For more information, please visit www.colum.edu.

About Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center is one of the city’s most visited attractions and is home to many of its great public events which include free music, dance, and theater events, as well as films, lectures, art exhibitions and family events. For more information please visit www.chicagoculturalcenter.org.

download full press release