Betwa Sharma New York, Nov 9 (PTI) A non-profit organisation that promotes Indian and cross-cultural arts forms in the US is organising a film festival here this week. Celebrated Indian artists including Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Sharmila Tagore will attend the MIAAC (Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council) Film Festival that kicks off on Wednesday, with 47 screenings.

The show begins with ''Today''s Special'' staring Shah, Madhur Jaffrey and Daily Show actor/correspondent Asif Mandvi who plays a cook in a comedy about food and friendship set in Jackson Heights, which is a South Asian hub in the Queens borough. "This is a story about an immigrant family who happen to be Indian and Muslim, and it''s a story about a father and a son," Mandvi told PTI. "Even in America, people who don''t know Indians know Indian food.

The reality is that it''s a great way in for people into the culture," she added. Indian actress Deepti Naval, will make her directorial debut in ''Two Paise for Sunshine Four Annas for Rain'', which brings together a struggling gay lyricist with an ageing prostitute played by Manisha Koirala and her 12-year-old son.

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