Screening of “About Elsewhere” and “Moustaches Unlimited” on 27th August ‘08

Adda presents a screening of two documentaries on Wednesday, 27th August ‘08 at the Conference Hall, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

About Elsewhere (29 min)
A film by Priya Sen

The film will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker, Priya Sen.

Moustaches Unlimited (30min)
A film by Vasudha Joshi

About Elsewhere is a film that seeks to foreground the impossibility of fixing notions of sexuality through ideas of “identity” and “language”. As the film moves through various worlds the filmmaker has inhabited, it suggests a self in constant formation; one that constructs itself from parts and places that are in themselves, fragments of memory and experience. The film uses the metaphor of a “shell” as a place of repose and withdrawal from which it is possible to emerge. Uniquely, and with all the flair and multiplicity that accompanies a way of being.

Moustaches Unlimited is a charming, irreverent documentary film. The film is an assemblage of interviews, opinions, poetry and story that explores the stubborn legacy and allure of the eponymous facial feature of men and some intrepid women. Somehow both celebratory and satirical, Moustaches’ exploration of the male body politics is amusingly illuminating. It will take the bushiest of moustaches to hide the grins that this film elicits from its audience.

Screening of Ardhsatya on Wednesday, 20th August ‘08, 6 p.m.

Adda will screen Ardhsatya on Wednesday, 20th August ‘08 in the Conference Hall, Tata Institute of Social Sciences at 6 p.m.

Based on a book written by Vijay Tendulkar, Ardh Satya is a film by Govind Nihalini. In this acclaimed cop-drama, the protagonist, played by Om Puri, is a policeman struggling both with the evils around him and with his own frailties. The film also stars Amrish Puri, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sadashiv Amrapurkar.

The following is an excerpt of Dilip Chitre’s poem spoken by Om Puri in the film.

Chakravyuh mein ghusne se pehle,
kaun tha mein aur kaisa tha,
yeh mujhe yaad hi na rahega.

Chakravyuh mein ghusne ke baad,
mere aur chakravyuh ke beech,
sirf ek jaanleva nikat’ta thi,
iska mujhe pata hi na chalega.

Chakravyuh se nikalne ke baad,
main mukt ho jaoon bhale hi,
phir bhi chakravyuh ki rachna mein
farq hi na padega.

Marun ya maarun,
maara jaoon ya jaan se maardun.
iska faisla kabhi na ho paayega.

Soya hua aadmi jab
neend se uthkar chalna shuru karta hai,
tab sapnon ka sansar use,
dobara dikh hi na paayega.

Us roshni mein jo nirnay ki roshni hai
sab kuchh s’maan hoga kya?

Ek palde mein napunsakta,
ek palde mein paurush,
aur theek taraazu ke kaante par
ardh satya.

Screening of Persepolis! – Wednesday, August 13th ‘08

On Wednesday, 13th of August ‘08, Adda presents a screening of the film ‘Persepolis’ at 6 pm in the Conference Hall, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Persepolis is an adaptation of Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel detailing the trials faced by an outspoken Iranian girl who finds her unique attitude and outlook on life repeatedly challenged during the Islamic revolution.

Successful first screening!

Vikalp: Films for Freedom, in association with Adda, the Film Club of
the Centre for Media and Cultural Studies will screen a selection of
documentaries and short films on the first Wednesday of every month
beginning from 6 p.m.

The inaugural screening of Vikalp@TISS was organized on 4th August,
2008 in the Conference Hall of Tata Institute of Social Sciences. A
selection of films made by the filmmaker Ajay TG were shown as part of
the ‘Release Ajay TG Film Festival’ package.

A signature campaign was also initiated and donations were collected,
the proceeds of which will be sent to Drksakshi, a school in Bhilai
run by Ajay TG and his wife Shobha Ajay.

Over a 150 people were present at the screening. A discussion was also
initiated and moderated by Mr. K.V. Nagesh, faculty from the Centre
for Media and Cultural Studies.