silent films were screened in tents a
century ago, some rare classics of the
silent era will be shown at the Kolkata
International Film Festival (KIFF) from
Sunday.
At the complex of the state-run multiplex
Nandan, a makeshift camp to
accommodate around 200 people has
been made to recreate the environment in
which films used to screened once upon a
time.
Named after one of India's first film-
makers, the Hiralal Sen Mancha will
screen 15 black and white classics during
the week-long carnival to celebrate the
completion of 100 years of Indian
cinema.
This Sunday, Dadasaheb Phalke's Raja
Harishchandra , India's first full-length
feature film released in 1913, will be
shown.
Based on the mythological story of King
Harishchandra, the film will be shown in
DVD format.
Music composer Debajyoti Mishra has
been assigned to play live music during
the screening, officials said.
This would be followed by another of
Phalke's film 'Kalia Mardan', which
presents the story of how a young Lord
Krishna wins over a giant serpent.
Jyotiprasad Agarwala's Joymati (1933)
takes viewers back to 17th century Assam
to tell the painful story of a medieval
princess who is tortured and killed by the
evil prime minister for refusing to betray
her husband.
Kalipada Das 1931 film Jamai Babu is a
comedy about a man who is visiting his
parents-in-law in Kolkata. The film is
remembered for having rare visuals of
Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial and the
sprawling Maidan in the heart of the city.
Besides, classics from the legendary New
Theatres studio founded by the Dada
Saheb Phalke awardee BN Sircar,
Chandidas, Dhoop Chhaon and Mukti will
also be shown.
Altogether 189 films from 60 countries
will be screened at twelve venues during
KIFF.
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