Latest news with #HabitatFilmFestival
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sharmila Tagore reveals what sets Habitat Film Festival apart from Cannes 2025
Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore opened up about her experience at the Habitat Film Festival, highlighting what makes it truly unique compared to other global events like Cannes 2025. Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore opened up about her experience at the Habitat Film Festival, highlighting what makes it truly unique compared to other global events like Cannes 2025. In a recent conversation, Tagore, a regular attendee of the Habitat Film Festival, revealed what sets this festival apart and why it continues to be a cherished event for cinephiles across India. Sharmila emphasized that the Habitat Film Festival thrives on love, dedication, and a commitment to quality. When asked about the differences with Cannes, she acknowledged the scale and global reach of the French festival. Sharmila Tagore told IANS, "Well, I've been coming to this festival for many years now, and they always curate very interesting films from all over India. It's a great opportunity to see those films, and they've maintained their high standards. So, it's always something to look forward to - I really look forward to this festival." The 'Gulmohar' actress added, "I don't think comparisons are necessary here. Habitat has been running with lots of love, with people taking great interest in maintaining quality. They organize conversations and various activities, and it has a very high standard. Over the years, it has become increasingly popular. Cannes is something else - it's much bigger, with different kinds of awards, and it's a global affair. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Since the time of filmmakers like Bajor Bahadur, people have been attending Cannes. It's a very different kind of event. Also, many brands advertise themselves there, not necessarily films. Plus, there's a film bazaar where people come to sell and buy films. It's a very large, prestigious, and thriving film festival as well as a marketplace where filmmakers showcase their work and look for buyers. This market aspect is a very necessary part of film festivals." Sharmila Tagore went on to explain, "Habitat, on the other hand, is a more intimate festival. Some might think Cannes is totally commercial, but that's not true. There are beautiful films shown there. When I was on the jury, we saw films like The White Ribbon, which was excellent and won the best film award. It's not just intellectual films; there are many good films from different languages." "Cannes is very old and well-funded, attracting many big stars, so it draws a much larger crowd. It takes time for festivals to grow, and Cannes has had that funding and time. We don't have to compete with Cannes, but Habitat is also growing - and growing very well," Tagore further explained. The 17th Habitat Film Festival honored legendary figures from the film industry such as Shyam Benegal , Raj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Mohammed Rafi , Talat Mahmood, and Aruna Vasudev. Additionally, the festival featured the screening of 'Puratawn,' which marked Sharmila Tagore's return to Bengali cinema. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Justin Bieber returns to the stage for the first time after birth of son Jack, fans say it's ‘uncomfortable to watch'
Multiple events in Delhi on May 25: Kendra Dance Festival at Kamani Auditorium, Nilotpal Bora live at Depot 48, Habitat Film Festival, Van Gogh immersive experience, Kaumudi play, Festival of Ideas, Varun Grover comedy, and a dog adoption camp across various venues.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
(Exclusive) Actors Paritosh Tripathi and Meenakshi Chand on becoming parents: We always wanted a baby girl
Multiple events in Delhi on May 25: Kendra Dance Festival at Kamani Auditorium, Nilotpal Bora live at Depot 48, Habitat Film Festival, Van Gogh immersive experience, Kaumudi play, Festival of Ideas, Varun Grover comedy, and a dog adoption camp across various venues.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Thank you for not doing it: Shabana Azmi to Aparna Sen for turning down Ankur
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi and actor-filmmaker Aparna Sen came together for a heartfelt session at the Habitat Film Festival, where they reflected on their bond, remembered the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal, and celebrated Shabana's 50-year milestone in cinema. The chat was more like a tete-a-tete between two friends, who fondly referred to each other as Munni (Shabana) and Reena (Aparna), while the audience listened in like friendly conversation, marked by warmth and wit, began with Aparna Sen paying tribute to Shyam Benegal, who died in December last year. "It's a loss, but he's left behind such wonderful films and memories. That is what we have to celebrate today. And along with that, we must celebrate Shabana's 50 years of acting. She is an inspiration to all the actresses who came after her,' Aparna said, before turning to Shabana with a smile, adding, "Really, you are."Shabana, with her trademark wit, quipped, "You never told me that when I was doing four films with you." Aparna responded, "At that time it was difficult." She went on to reveal that before Shabana, Benegal had approached her to play Lakshmi's role, which earned Shabana her first National Award. "Now, let me tell you something. Shyam had asked me to play the role of Lakshmi in 'Ankur'."advertisementShabana playfully interrupted, 'Thank you for not doing it!' Shabana Azmi and Aparna Sen at the 17th Habitat Film Festival. Aparna continued, 'My loss was Shabana's gain. It was Shyam's first film and when he sent me the synopsis, I saw that the role was of a Hyderabadi servant girl who speaks smatterings of Telugu. Immediately, I was terrified. I didn't say that to him though. I just said thank you, but I don't think I'll do it."She added that if Benegal had been probed further, she would've given in: "And, that would have been a disaster because we wouldn't have had Shabana. I was so happy when I saw her in Ankur - and you were just wonderful.'Reflecting on her debut with 'Ankur', Shabana called working with Shyam Benegal a transformative experience: 'It wasn't just working with a director, it was an exercise in knowing myself. I hung on to every word he said."She added that Benegal was warm and had such faith in his actors that they felt confident taking fondly recalled travelling to Berlin with Benegal for the film's screening. 'It was my first time abroad. I just wanted to rush to the malls and shop,' she laughed, adding, 'But Shyam would sit and talk about the taxi driver, the garden, the history of the place. He taught me that there's so much more to experience."She also praised his meticulous nature. "He'd plan our entire festival itinerary, ensuring we watched the right films. He was so invested in learning and sharing knowledge." Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag played pivotal roles in Ankur. Aparna then brought up Shabana's gold medal from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), jokingly asking if she brought it to the set for confidence. Shabana responded, 'No, not at all. It was in my being.'Shabana recalled preparing for the role of Lakshmi. She said she had never even stepped into a village before shooting 'Ankur.' 'When I reached Yellareddiguda, the village where we shot, Shyam asked me to just wear my costume and walk around. The tailor came to take my measurements, and I was shocked — a male tailor in a village! That's how I began," she shared that she didn't know how to speak Telugu, but she would speak Dakhini. Shabana said she was familiar with the dialect, having visited Hyderabad often, which helped her essay the Benegal's 'Ankur' won three National Film Awards and was nominated for a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1974. You May Also Like
Mint
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Weekly planner: 5 events that showcase the best of art, food and theatre
The Habitat Film Festival (HFF) is back with its 17th edition and is showcasing films across 24 Indian languages. This year, the HFF focuses on both classics and contemporary cinema through retrospectives, masterclasses and screenings. One of the highlights is the Shyam Benegal Retrospective featuring a special screening of his debut film Ankur. Some of the masterclasses include Neville Tuli's session on cinema as a critical and interdisciplinary educational resource, and a talk by Prof. S.V. Srinivas to mark 50 years of Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi in cinema. Till 25 May, at India Habitat Centre, Delhi. Entry is free, online registration mandatory via Enjoy a Kodava cuisine pop-up curated by Priya. On offer, as part of 'A Taste of Home', will be Pandhi Curry, Neyi Kool, Mange Pajji, Coconut Soufflé, among others. At Tijouri, Radisson Blu Atria, Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru, till 18 May. For details, visit 'Asen Me Nasen Me' at the NCPA A four-day festival, Pratibimb Marathi Natya Utsav, celebrates the world of Marathi theatre. Among the plays are Tuji Aukat Kaye?, a bilingual musical inspired by folk traditions, and Sobaticha Karar, an show of poetry and music. At the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Nariman Point, Mumbai, between 22-25 May. For details, visit Curated by Rahul Bhattacharya, the group exhibition, Alchemy of Matter: Material as Memory, Studio as Site, explores how artists of Vadodara are experimenting with materials like canvas, clay, glass and bronze. Among the 16 participating artists are Ajay Lakhera and Mayur Gupta. On view till 10 June, 11am-7pm. Lexicon Art Gallery, Connaught Place, New Delhi. 'After Silence' by Harshh Kumar Method Kala Ghoda in Mumbai is presenting two solo exhibitions: After Silence by Harshh Kumar, and Inheritance of a Feeling by Dheeraj Jadhav. Both shows seek to create a contemplative space for soaking in two distinct visual languages around abstraction and memory. Viewers can take in the contrasts between the artists' practices. While Kumar's works are layered and vibrant, 'channelling emotional turbulence through gestural abstraction; Jadhav's series of inkblot works is almost entirely in black and white, with just one artwork in colour—a symbolic gesture,' mentions the curatorial note. At Method Kala Ghoda, Mumbai, till 15 June, 12-8pm, closed on Monday-Tuesday.
