| For immediate release |
| MAHINDRA INDO-AMERICAN ARTS COUNCIL (MIAAC) FILM FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 11-15, 2009 |
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MAHINDRA INDO-AMERICAN ARTS COUNCIL FILM FESTIVAL *NOV 13th: VIJAY AMRITRAJ TO PRESENT SATOSH SIVAN'S FILM "TAHAAN' SET IN KASHMIR AS FESTIVAL CENTERPIECE AT THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN * NOV 15th: SHARMILA TAGORE AND APARNA SEN STAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE CLOSING NIGHT FILM, "THE ENDLESS WAIT (ANTAHEEN)" AT WALTER READE THEATRE, LINCOLN CENTER New York, NY September 17th, 2009: The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council (MIAAC) Film Festival announces the Opening, Closing & Centerpiece Films for its 9th Annual Festival in New York City. Following hot on the success of the 2008 festival, which saw a stellar line up of films and talent including the NY premiere of Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire,” this year’s opening film is “Today’s Special.” Directed by David Kaplan, the film is written by and stars Comedy Central star Aasif Mandvi; accompanied by renowned Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah as well as author and actor Madhur Jaffrey. Tennis celebrity and media executive Vijay Amritraj will present Santosh Sivan's “Tahaan” set in Kashmir, as the prestigious Festival Centerpiece. The festival this year packs a bang with the closing film “Antaheen - The Endless Wait” starring two film luminaries discovered by Satyajit Ray - Sharmila Tagore and Aparna Sen – both of whom will attend this U.S. premiere at the Walter Reade Theatre, Lincoln Center. MIACC 09 will run from November 11-15, 2009 and all public screenings will be at the Quad Cinemas, New York City. MIAAC Film Festival once again sets the stage for some of the most highly anticipated films of the year. Presented by the Indo-American Arts Council in collaboration with the Mahindra Group, MIAAC showcases the best of Indian cinema from India and the Diaspora. Opening film “Today’s Special” is a heart warming food comedy based in New York with Aasif Mandvi sharing the spotlight with Naseeruddin Shah and Madhur Jaffrey. Aasif Mandvi who also co-wrote the film says, “I am very excited that my film ‘Today's Special’ has been invited to open this year's MIAAC Film Festival. It's an honor to be in the company of the films and filmmakers who make up this year's festival. Having had a relationship with the Indo-American Arts Council for some years now, it's exciting to see not only how they have grown over the last decade, but how their support and promotion of the work of the Indian American artist has never been distracted.” The centerpiece film is Santosh Sivan's film “Tahaan” and is about the adventures of a little boy and his pet donkey in militant Kashmir. It has won myriad accolades at international film festivals and will celebrate its NY Premiere at the MIAAC Film Festival. Closing film “Antaheen – The Endless Wait” by director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury brings Satyajit Ray’s two actresses’ – Sharmila Tagore and Aparna Sen together on screen for the first time. Set in modern day Kolkatta, the film crisscrosses between the loves, passions and relationships of these two actresses. These three films represent the festival's focus, genres, and themes - from independent films to Diaspora artists; from New York to the new Global India; from social concern to romantic comedy. Celebrities who will represent these three films at the festival include the entire New York cast of 'Today's Special' led by Aasif Mandvi, Naseeruddin Shah and Madhur Jaffrey; Santosh Sivan, Vijay Amritraj, Aparna Sen, Sharmila Tagore, Kalyan Roy and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. MIAAC 09 will announce the complete lineup of films, programming and celebrities in the first week of October. "I am thrilled that ‘Today’s Special’ will open MIAAC 09", says Aroon Shivdasani, Executive Director of the IAAC. “We have seen the film grow from its play reading to its staging with Aasif Mandvi, a long time friend and family member of IAAC. We are thrilled to see its development into film and delighted to present a New York film set in our phenomenal diverse city- home of the MIAAC Film Festival." Tickets for 2009 Festival Tickets prices will be $15 general admission; $12 IAAC members & students w/ID. Nov 11th: MIAAC 09 Opening Night Film: TODAY’S SPECIAL Inspired by Aasif Mandvi's Obie Award winning play Sakina's Restaurant, "Today's Special" is a heartwarming food comedy set in New York City. Samir (Aasif Mandvi) is a Sous Chef who dreams of being Head Chef of his boss's hot new restaurant. After being passed over for the promotion, he abruptly quits and hatches plans to go to France and study under a legendary Chef. But when his estranged father, Hakim (Harish Patel), has a heart attack, Samir’s life takes a detour back to his parents home in Jackson Heights, Queens, where he takes over the failing family business: Tandoori Palace. With one foot out the door, Samir must come to terms with the loss of his older brother a few years back, and the sadness that engulfs his parents. Luckily, his paths cross with Akbar (Naseeruddin Shah): a taxi driver, former chef in Mumbai, and irrepressible raconteur who lives in the moment, breaks conventions, and inspires Samir to embrace life, save Tandoori Palace, and his family along the way Nov 13th: MIAAC 09 Festival Centerpiece: TAHAAN Tahaan lives with his family in the Kashmir valley. The eight-year-old's father has been missing for over three years. The local moneylender takes away the family's assets including Tahaan's pet donkey, Birbal. The boy is determined to bring Birbal back home but is told that an old man (played by Anupam Kher) bought the donkey. Tahaan goes in search of the old man but finds he has to do a teenager he meets a favor to get Birbal back. Director Sivan, who had previously shot Mani Rathnam’s Roja in Kashmir, developed his fable-like screenplay after reading a story in an Indian newspaper. With Purav Bhandara, Anupam Kher, Rahul Bose, Rahul Khanna, Victor Banerjee. Santosh Sivan and Vijay Amritraj in person. Nov 15th: MIAAC 09 Closing Night Film: THE ENDLESS WAIT (ANTAHEEN) A new Kolkata glitters to life, all intelligence and smooth surfaces, as loves, passions, and relationships crisscross in a shifting web brought to the screen. Abhik, a police officer, loses faith in the real relationships and seeks solace in the virtual world where he develops an online relationship with Brinda, a journalist. Ranjan and Paromita, an older estranged couple, become the bridge between the two younger lovers, nursing as they do their own separation and tenderness. The Endless Wait brings to the screen some sterling performances, including Satyajit Ray’s legendary discoveries, Sharmila Tagore and Aparna Sen, in their first film together. Also with Rahul Bose, Kalyan Roy. Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Aparna Sen, Kalyan Roy and Sharmila Tagore in person. About the Indo-American Arts Council: The is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit, secular service and resource arts organization charged with the mission of promoting and building the awareness, creation, production, exhibition, publication and performance of Indian and cross-cultural art forms in North America. The IAAC supports all artistic disciplines in the classical, fusion, folk and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. We work cooperatively with colleagues around the United States to broaden our collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources and funding. Our focus is to work with artists and arts organizations in North America as well as to facilitate artists and arts organizations from India to exhibit, perform and produce their works here. For more information, please visit About the Mahindra Group The US $6.3 billion Mahindra Group is among the top 10 industrial houses in India. Mahindra is the market leader in multi-utility vehicles in India. It made a milestone entry into the passenger car segment with the Logan. Mahindra & Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top tractor brands in the world. The Group has a leading presence in key sectors of the Indian economy, including the financial services, trade, retail and logistics, automotive components, after-market, information technology and infrastructure development. Mahindra has made an entry in the two-wheeler segment which will see the company emerge as a full-range player with a presence in almost every segment of the automobile industry. The Mahindra Group recently expanded its IT portfolio when Tech Mahindra acquired the leading global business and information technology services company, Satyam Computer Services. The company is now known as Mahindra Satyam. Mahindra's Farm Equipment Sector is the proud recipient of the Japan Quality Medal, the only tractor company worldwide to be bestowed this honour. It also holds the distinction of being the only tractor company worldwide to win the Deming Prize. The US based Reputation Institute recently ranked Mahindra among the top 10 Indian companies in its Global 200: The World's Best Corporate Reputations list. Mahindra is also one of the few Indian companies to receive an A+ GRI checked rating for its first Sustainability Report for the year 2007-08. For more information, please visit www.mahindra.com Press Contacts: Peepul PR Gayatri Hingorani-Dewan: gayatri@mypeepul.com / 917.346.0551 High resolution pictures are available upon request |