Pradip Kurbah: We're losing our sense of community
About the last six residents—Ms Helen, Complete, Maia, Friday, Promise and Livingstone—of a remote village in Meghalaya, the film captures their lives through meditative visuals, shot in each of the four seasons. The vast expanse of landscape is evocative of their isolation. Little profundities are strewn all over the dialogue—about how all good things seem to end too soon, how every exit is an entrance to something new, about looking for happiness not in what you have lost but what you still have. The Elysian Field is a film to be experienced and felt than explained.
Kurbah's debut feature Ri: Homeland of Uncertainty (2013), dealt with militancy in Meghalaya; Onataah: Of the Earth (2016) was about a young woman coming to terms with rape and starting life afresh and Market (2019) focused on everyday life of people in Shillong's bustling Iewduh market. His fourth feature, The Elysian Field, is quite simply the most original and outstanding Indian film I have seen so far in 2025. It had its world premiere at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival where it won three major awards last week—Best Film, Best Director and the NETPAC award for Best Film. Excerpts from a conversation with Kurbah soon after his return from the festival.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
14 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Paris is scam': Indian traveller slams ‘impossible-to-chew bread' and ‘disaster dessert' at her ‘most expensive' Eiffel Tower lunch
Ishwarya, an Indian traveller and one half of the United Kingdom-based Tamil travel vlogging duo 'Make Travel Easy,' left Paris with more than just photos of the Eiffel Tower –– she also carried home a story about a pricey lunch gone wrong. In a candid Instagram post, Ishwarya called it her the 'most expensive' meal in the City of Light, yet one that failed to impress. The bread, she said, was so hard it was nearly impossible to chew, and the starter arrived cold. Her experience wasn't unique, an elderly woman from New Zealand, seated beside her at the Eiffel Tower's second-floor restaurant, voiced the same complaints. A post shared by Make Travel Easy (@_maketraveleasy) When Ishwarya asked the server if they had softer bread, the answer was a flat no. She rated the starter just 2/10, gave the main dish a more forgiving 7/10, and declared the dessert, which she found overly creamy, a disaster at 1/10. 'I will never go here again,' she wrote. A post shared by Make Travel Easy (@_maketraveleasy) In her YouTube video, Ishwarya revealed that her day took an unexpected turn when she ended up helping the New Zealand woman, who struggled to eat, reach a supermarket for biscuits and then walk her back to her hotel. The review sparked debate online. Some commenters felt she simply didn't understand European dining culture. 'European breads are supposed to be hard… there are so many different types of breads,' one person pointed out. Another wrote, 'It must be your first time to eat in Europe. That's a normal bread for Europeans.' Others sided with her frustration. 'Paris is a scam,' wrote one. Another was even harsher: 'French food is actually pretty bad. We've been starving out in New Caledonia. No vege, limited fruit. Rubbish food.'
Economic Times
15 minutes ago
- Economic Times
From Janaki V vs State Of Kerala to Junior and Virgin Boys: Catch these latest Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu OTT releases on Netflix, JioHotstar, Prime Video
Bookmark this week's OTT releases. The Independence Day long weekend is just around the corner, and streaming platforms are rolling out an exciting mix of films and series perfect for a holiday binge. From gripping courtroom dramas and action-packed thrillers to laugh-out-loud comedies and heartfelt family stories, there's something for every viewer to dive into. Whether you want edge-of-your-seat suspense or lighthearted entertainment, these new releases across Zee5, SunNxt, Aha, Amazon Prime Video, and ManoramaMax offer the perfect excuse to grab some snacks, relax, and enjoy hours of screen time. This Malayalam courtroom drama follows Janaki Vidhyadharan, a Bengaluru-based IT professional whose life is upended after a sexual assault. Determined to seek justice, she teams up with veteran lawyer David Abel Donovan, played by Suresh Gopi, to challenge the system from within. The series explores resilience, truth, and the harsh realities of India's judicial system, delivering a tense and compelling narrative that keeps viewers engaged while raising questions about accountability and justice. Directed by N Aravindhan, Good Day is a Tamil-language action thriller set to stream on SunNxt. The film features Kaali Venkat, Bagavathi Perumal, Nandhini Myna, and Jeeva Subramanian in prominent roles, blending intense action sequences with a gripping storyline. With an IMDb rating of 8, Good Day promises a tightly woven narrative and high-octane drama, making it a must-watch for fans of action-packed cinema over the long Independence Day weekend. Telugu adult comedy Virgin Boys follows three college students—Arya, Dundy, and Ronny—on a hilarious mission to lose their virginity by New Year's Eve. Directed by Dayanand Gaddam, the film combines romance, bromance, and chaotic humour into a laugh-out-loud experience. Despite limited pre-release buzz, it performed well at the box office and is now set to stream on Aha and OTTplay Premium. Mithraaw Sharma and Srihan shine with their performances, particularly in the second half, which is packed with comic timing and surprises. Junior marks the big-screen debut of Kireeti Reddy, paired with young star Sreeleela in the female lead, while also welcoming Genelia Deshmukh back to Telugu cinema. Directed by Radha Krishna Reddy, this Telugu action-drama blends family dynamics with high-energy sequences. The film is expected to release digitally on Amazon Prime Video in multiple languages, including Telugu and Kannada, with possible dubs, offering audiences a mix of drama, action, and nostalgia for the Independence Day weekend. Set in a Kerala village, this Malayalam family comedy-drama revolves around the sudden death of Savithri Amma just before her granddaughter's engagement. Chaos ensues as relatives and neighbours gather, blending traditional rituals with humorous arguments and misunderstandings. Featuring Anaswara Rajan, Siju Sunny, and Mallika Sukumaran, the series offers a lighthearted take on family dynamics, making it a perfect choice for viewers seeking laughter and relatable village-based storytelling over the holiday weekend.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
This Mumbai ‘Vet Expert' Has Just 800 Followers. But It Includes Sachin Tendulkar's Kids. She Is...
Saaniya is the granddaughter of renowned Mumbai businessman Ravi Ghai, one of the leading personalities in the food industry, maintaining ties with international food chains. A vet expert from Mumbai, Saaniya Chandhok, hit the headlines on Thursday, as reports claimed she got engaged to legendary Sachin Tendulkar's son, Arjun, a day earlier. No official statement has been made by the two families about the engagement ceremony, but the mark of a new beginning in junior Tendulkar's life has raised curiosity about Saaniya. Arjun, 25, who has been part of the Mumbai Indians since 2021, presented a ring to Saaniya in a private ceremony attended only by close friends and family members on Wednesday. Ever since the news of the engagement, fans have been wondering about Saaniya and who the new member of the Tendulkar family is. Who is Saaniya Chandhok? According to a report by India Today, Saaniya is the granddaughter of renowned Mumbai businessman Ravi Ghai, who is one of the leading personalities in the hospitality and food industry, maintaining ties with InterContinental Hotel and Brooklyn Creamery. The report also claims Arjun's fiancée is the founder of Mumbai-based Mr. Paws Pet Spa & Store LLP, which is an established brand known for pet grooming services. In a post earlier this year, the brand confirmed Saaniya is a certified Veterinary Technician from WVS, having completed her ABC programme. Apart from this, Saaniya is reportedly involved in the Ghai family's business activities and manages multiple companies. Despite hailing from a business tycoon's family, Saaniya maintains a low profile on social media, with just over 800 followers and only 26 posts on her private Instagram account. Her follower account, though, includes Arjun and his sister Sara Tendulkar, with whom she has been clicked and appeared in social media posts several times. Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Tendulkar gets engaged to business tycoon Ravi Ghai's granddaughter Saaniya Chandok. top videos View all Arjun Tendulkar's Professional Front On the professional front, Arjun has been striving to consolidate his place in MI's IPL playing XI while also trying to impress the national selectors with his performances for Goa in domestic cricket. The all-rounder has played 17 first-class games and scored 532 runs, apart from taking 37 wickets. His 24 T20 appearances include 27 scalps at an economy rate of 8.75. view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 14:27 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
