logo
Peter Brook's restored ‘Mahabharata' to premiere at London Indian Film Festival 2025

Peter Brook's restored ‘Mahabharata' to premiere at London Indian Film Festival 2025

London, Legendary British director Peter Brook's reimagining of 'The Mahabharata' has been digitally restored for the big screen and will get its UK premiere at this year's London Indian Film Festival . Peter Brook's restored 'Mahabharata' to premiere at London Indian Film Festival 2025
The 1989 film, starring Mallika Sarabhai as Draupadi as part of an illustrious global cast, will get a Central Gala red-carpet screening at the British Film Institute's largest IMAX screen when the festival opens next month.
The well-known interpretation of the epic tale of love, philosophy and warfare told as a story that encompasses all humankind will be screened to align with the 100th birth year of Brooks, who was awarded a Padma Shri in 2021 for contributions in the field of art.
Other highlights of LIFF 2025 include the Tamil-French film 'Little Jaffna' and the Assamese teen drama 'Village Rockstars 2' by director Rima Das.
'We are delighted to showcase some of South Asia's most outstanding new indie films across London and Birmingham in July, and to not only highlight emerging talent such as opening night director Lawrence Valin's 'Little Jaffna', or Indian director Lakshmipriya Devi's 'Boong', but to premiere the legendary Padma Shri UK director Peter Brook's spectacular 'The Mahabharata' at the BFI IMAX, literally the biggest story ever showing on the Britain's largest screen,' said Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Director of the London and Birmingham Indian Film Festivals.
'In our industry events at the festival we will also be celebrating the filmmaking potential of South Asians born and living in the UK, and their potential to partner with Indian filmmakers on exciting future cross-collaborations,' he said.
'Boong' tells of a disobedient schoolboy's ambition to mend his broken family in Manipur, naively risking his safety to cross into Myanmar in search of his missing dad.
The festival, one of Europe's largest annual Indian film events scheduled between July 16 and 23 across London and Birmingham, will also celebrate emerging British talent with a new industry event to encourage more South Asians in the country to become a part of the film industry. This new collaboration with RIFCO Theatre is accompanied by the festival's regular programme of Brit-Asian shorts.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

American woman applauds India's space programme after Shubhanshu Shukla enters ISS: ‘Top space power'
American woman applauds India's space programme after Shubhanshu Shukla enters ISS: ‘Top space power'

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

American woman applauds India's space programme after Shubhanshu Shukla enters ISS: ‘Top space power'

In a heartfelt and widely-shared Instagram video, an American woman has praised India's growing stature in space exploration, shortly after Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history by becoming the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS). An American woman's video praising India's space feats went viral.(Instagram/kristenfischer3) Kristen Fischer, the woman behind the viral video, took to Instagram to celebrate India's recent space milestone, saying, "India just successfully launched their astronaut into the International Space Station. While this is an accomplishment on itself, did you know these other facts about the Indian Space Program?" (Also read: American woman leaves 'average' life in US for extraordinary journey in India, calls it life-changing) A powerful tribute to ISRO Fischer went on to highlight several key achievements of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), noting that it was founded in 1969 and is one of only six space agencies globally. She added, "India's Mars mission, Mangalyaan, was the first interplanetary mission and cost only $74 million. To put that into perspective, NASA spent over a billion dollars on their first Mars mission." Emphasising India's reputation for low-cost innovation, she continued, "India was the first nation to reach Mars on the first try and the third nation to reach Mars overall. Also, India's Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008 was the first to detect water molecules on the moon, which was then later confirmed by NASA." Fischer also pointed out that ISRO holds several world records, including launching the lightest satellite and the most satellites in a single mission. Caption applauds India's progress Her video, viewed over 36,000 times, was shared with a caption that read, "Did you know that India's space program was so impressive!? First founded in 1969, the ISRO is one of only 6 national space programs worldwide… India is definitely on track to be a top space power in the world." She added, "When people talk about India, they often talk about underdeveloped parts. They don't often talk about the parts where India is excelling in technology and worldwide advancement. I think it is worth acknowledging the successes India has had in their amazing space organisation!" Watch the clip here: Viewers applaud her passion The video struck a chord with Indian and international audiences alike. One viewer remarked, 'You look more excited than Indians. You love India more than Indians!' Another added, 'Yes, it's a proud moment for us. Jai Hind.' Others praised her research and sentiment, saying, 'Well researched information! India has the potential to give its best!!' and 'Kudos to you, Kristen, for recognising the advancements in our space program.' A particularly thoughtful comment read, 'Wow, you know more than so many people about ISRO. Thank you for sharing this information and congratulations to the Indian space programme.' Historic mission to the ISS Kristen's video came on the heels of India's proud moment in space exploration. On 26 June, the Axiom-4 mission's Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS after a 28-hour journey. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as mission pilot, joined veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson and two other crew members on this milestone mission.

F1 box office collection Day 2: Brad Pitt's racing drama zooms past Kajol's 'Maa'; earns Rs 15.12 crore in India
F1 box office collection Day 2: Brad Pitt's racing drama zooms past Kajol's 'Maa'; earns Rs 15.12 crore in India

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

F1 box office collection Day 2: Brad Pitt's racing drama zooms past Kajol's 'Maa'; earns Rs 15.12 crore in India

Brad Pitt 's high-octane racing drama F1 is off to a blazing start at the Indian box office. The film, which marks Pitt's return to action in the fast-paced world of motorsport, clocked in an impressive Rs 15.12 crore net over its first two days, according to early estimates from industry tracker Sacnilk. The American sports drama opened to an estimated Rs 5.5 crore on Friday and witnessed a remarkable 75% jump on Saturday, collecting Rs 9.62 crore. Interestingly, a large chunk of the film's earnings came from its English version, which alone contributed Rs 13.97 crore to the overall total — Rs 5 crore on Day 1 and Rs 8.97 crore on Day 2. The film has also been released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu versions. With these numbers, F1 has overtaken Kajol's Hindi horror-thriller Maa, which collected Rs 10.30 crore in two days. Pitt's film now leads the box office race heading into Sunday. Directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger, F1 has been created in collaboration with the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1. Alongside Pitt, the film stars Damson Idris, Kerry Condon , Tobias Menzies, Lewis Hamilton (who also serves as co-producer), Javier Bardem , and Sarah Niles. Adding to the buzz, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone gave Pitt a glowing nod on social media. In a late-night Instagram story on Sunday, she posted, 'Brad Pitt. That's It. That's The Post. IYKYK (If You Know You Know).' The cryptic yet enthusiastic shoutout sparked a flurry of reactions from fans, many of whom speculated that the actress had watched F1 and was clearly impressed. As the weekend progresses, all eyes are now on whether F1 can maintain its momentum and cross the Rs 25 crore mark by the end of Sunday.

Poetic journey through the Indian city streets
Poetic journey through the Indian city streets

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

Poetic journey through the Indian city streets

Do you have memories of the busy buzz and unending traffic of the lanes and bylanes of Amritsar, the twin city to Lahore, until the borders parted them in the divide of the cursed 1947. The former was called the business city while the latter the cultural capital of the once united Punjab. Well if you have not known then read the poems it's home-grown poet Manmohan Singh, which features in the delightful and amazing 'Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian city' edited by a young scholar of Mumbai at Oxford University, Bilal Moin. Thus go lines from the poem: Anthology of poetry featuring poems of Amrita Pritam & Manmohan Singh. (HT) 'After long years I am passing through its narrow lanes Dhab Khatikan, Chhai Khooni Chaunk, Bazaar Baansan, Loon Mandi, I want to hear the rickshaw pullers and tongawalas say: 'Take care Khalsa ji' ... 'Watch our Sahib!'... 'Hold on, Bhai ji', 'Let me pass Lala ji'... 'Move away my friend' As they weave their way through flocks of sheep, donkeys, piles of sugarcane sticks, pedallers, carts without hitting, hurting or trampling on anything or anyone' Move from Amritsar, crossing Jalandhar, once the city of Urdu poet Hafiz Jalandhari of 'Abhi jao main jawan hoon' fame and come to the Manchester of India, Ludhiana of course, and you cannot but think of the great poets it nurtured: Sahir Ludhianvi and Ibn-E-Insha in Urdu and became home to Punjabi poet Mohan Singh and later Surjit Patar. The Government College Ludhiana, from where Sahir was rusticated in British times for his revolutionary poetry, now remembers him with pride. Sahir's famous ode to his college meets the eye engraved in full glory: 'I could never forget these portals, these terraces, If I could not be owned here, at least I was disowned from here (Ham in hi fizaon ke paale huye tao hain/ Gar yahan ke nahi, gar yahan ke nahi yan se nikale huye tao hain'. This Ludhianvi is not included in this Magnum Opus but the woman poet who loved him greatly is featured with a poem. The reference of course is to one of the most celebrated poets of Punjabi, Amrita Pritam of course: Today I effaced my house number the name of the street at the very outset. I wiped away the direction of every road. And still if you must search me out just knock at the door in each street of each city of each country. It's a curse and a benediction both and wherever you find free soul -that's my home! The City Beautiful Interestingly, Chandigarh finds its place in this Magnum Opus which has as many as 375 poems across 37 cities of India and all of 993 pages and so big that it slips from my hands every now then. It is interesting to note that in the crowd of ancient and medieval cities that India can boast of, the new city designed in the tradition of the West, manages to make space for itself in this collection. One reason for this is that it works as a contrast to our Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and more and the other that it had poets coming here from other cities and there were poems aplenty in comparing the different cultures of the new and old cities. I once recall the great story writer of Punjabi, Kulwant Singh Virk, asked me which city I belonged to in my days as a young journalist. I replied in earnest, 'Chandigarh'. Dismissing my statement, he said 'No one belongs to Chandigarh. 'Where did you come from?' 'I was born in Chandigarh'. Exasperated, he questioned me again about where my parents were from. Then I told him 'My mother was from Rawalpindi and my father from Lahore.' This brought a smile to his face and he exclaimed, ' So that makes you the daughter of three capitals!' Interestingly, Moin-the editor, quotes famous writer Nirmal Verma from his treatise in 'Sugandh and Smriti' on how the metropolis is the centre of attraction: 'One can invite Le Corbusier to build a Chandigarh but one cannot import the values that turn a concrete structure into a home.' Yet he breaks this myth saying 'Each one of us has his own Chandigarh--Le Corbusier's town walls painted with blobs of Paan spittle. Where else can one come across a strange amalgam of modernity and Indianness?' Chandigarh is represented by poems of Malovika Pawar, Bernie Gourley, Tania Mehta and yours truly. Sadly our major poets like Kumar Vikal of Hindi and Amitoj of Punjabi, who contributed much to the mood of the city are not to be found and the reason for this is that translations of their works were not easily available. Poet as a loafer One congratulates Moin for creating this beautiful volume more so celebrating the poet as a loafer a la 'awara hoon'. In appreciation AE Stalins, Oxford professor of poetry says: As editor Bilal Moin points out, the poet of the Indian city is less French Flaneur than intellectual, sipping tea at a city than intellectual 'loafer', sipping tea at a cafe abuzz with flies and language.' Cheers all round. nirudutt@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store