Pickle August 15th Freedom special

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Mudhalvan, Directed by S Shankar

One year shy of independent India’s 75th year, 20 films on nationhood and its many dimensions

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Gandhi, Directed by Richard Attenborough

UNBOUND

National Film Development Corporation’s OTT platform Cinemas of India will stream for free the Patriotic Film Festival till August 21, showcasing the best of Indian cinema depicting India’s struggle for freedom and its exceptional heroes to mark the 74th Independence Day celebrations 2

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Pickle Volume XIV 6th Edition Published by Pickle Media Private Limited Email: natvid@gmail.com l Mumbai l Chennai No.2, Habib Complex, Dr Durgabhai Deshmukh Road RA Puram CHENNAI 600 028

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Pickle is an ad supported business guide tracking the filmed entertainment business in India.

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Not just another day

20 films that make us

believe

freedom is priceless

by Saibal Chatterjee

Freedom is nothing if it does not make a difference to the lives of the people who make up a nation. In the manner in which politics and the power dynamic often pan out, ordinary voices are barely heard above the din of rhetoric and empty bluster. As India, the world’s largest democracy, completes 74 years as an independent nation, we draw up a list of 20 films from around the country that celebrate people power in the face of daunting challenges.

These films remind us that independence isn’t just about the rulers; it also draws meaning from those who build the nation with their toiling hands and throbbing souls, and from the change agents and activists who are on the frontline of the battle to protect our liberties and rights as citizens.

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Bengali, 1980 The film was a celebration of free thinking, people’s power and the healing quality inherent in music

Director: Satyajit Ray Starring: Tapen Chatterjee, Rabi Ghosh, Utpal Dutt, Soumitra Chatterjee, Santosh Dutta, Ajoy Banerjee

Hirak Rajar Deshe

Streaming ON airtelXstream, hoichoi

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atyajit Ray’s sequel to his 1969 children’s musical fantasy Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, three years after the end of Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, painted an alarming portrait of the ways of a despot. The protagonists, the magical musicians Goopy and Bagha, reach the kingdom called Hirak, where they find great suffering and starvation among the people even as the heartless tyrant hoards enormous wealth. The king’s ministers are yes-men, all dissent is ruthlessly crushed, and rebels are captured and put through a brainwashing machine. A teacher, the only character in the film who does not deliver dialogues in rhyme, enlists the support of Goopy and Bagha in a rebellion against the authoritarian ruler. The film was a celebration of free thinking, people’s power and the healing quality inherent in music.

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Malayalam, 1995 The freedom struggle, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the advent of the world’s first democraticallyelected Communist government in Kerala and the declaration of Emergency provide the backdrop for the drama

Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan Starring: Vishwanathan, Mini Nair, Aranmula Ponnamma, Narendra Prasad, Urmila Unni

Kathapurushan

Streaming ON Youtube

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he protagonist of Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s masterly film,which probes the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of attempts to chain it through the means of regimentation and political conditioning, is a man who values his freedom more than anything else.

Kunjunni is born with a stammer but he is endowed with an inner strength that helps him turn every experience into a new beginning. He falls in loves with the maid’s daughter but is forced to separate from her as political changes rob the family of its wealth, his mother and grandmother pass away, he is disillusioned with party politics, and strays into Naxalism and is arrested and tortured by the police.

Through his experiences, Kathapurushan explores the history of post-Independence Kerala. The film moves back and forth between the particular and the universal. The freedom struggle, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the advent of the world’s first democratically-elected Communist government in Kerala, the Naxalite uprising, the declaration of Emergency and the Left’s return to popular favour provide the backdrop for the drama.

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Tamil, 1997 Iruvar tracks the intense intertwining of cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu through the account of the life and times of two friends-turned-foes

Director: Mani Ratnam Starring: Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai

Iruvar

Streaming ON airtelXstream, hoichoi

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ani Ratnam’s 1997 political drama (which, presumably under pressure, was pitched as “not a true story”) traced the rise of three Tamil Nadu chief ministers (M. Karunanidhi, MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa) via a series of crucial state elections. The film, starring Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai (in her first big screen appearance), Revathi and Tabu, tracks the intense intertwining of cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu through the account of the life and times of two friendsturned-foes who went on to becoming towering figures both in the world of entertainment and in guiding the destiny of the state. Iruvar, which won several international accolades, ranks among the Chennai filmmaker’s most accomplished works, marked by impressive technical skill.

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Tamil, 1999

A chief minister, under constant fire from a truculent television journalist who thrives on asking hard questions, dares the former to run the state for 24 hours

Mudhalvan

Director: S. Shankar Starring: Arjun, Manisha Koirala, Raghuvaran, Vadivelu, Manivannan

Streaming ON Voot

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.Shankar’s Tamil potboiler, which the director himself turned into the Bollywood film Nayak (2001) with the Hindi dialogue penned by Anurag Kashyap and Anil Kapoor playing the role essayed by Arjun in the original production, delved in a hyper-dramatic fashion into the popular disillusionment with the political class and conjured up a story aimed at collective wish fulfilment. A chief minister, under constant fire from a truculent television journalist who thrives on asking hard questions, dares the former to run the state for 24 hours.

The hero accepts the challenge. Although he faces many pitfalls in his way, the protagonist does such a wonderful job that his popularity shoots through the roof and he sweeps the next polls.

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Tamil, 2018 A story about electoral malpractices and create awareness about the rights of the people in a functioning democracy

Director: A. R. Murugadoss Starring: Vijay, Keerthy Suresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Radha Ravi

Sarkar

Streaming ON Netflix, SUNNXT

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he Tamil film written and directed by A.R. Murugadoss, taps lead actor Vijay’s cult status to tell a story about electoral malpractices and create awareness about the rights of the people in a functioning democracy. The star plays an NRI businessman Sundar Ramaswamy who returns from the US to cast his vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections only to find that his vote has been fraudulently cast by someone else. He launches a fight against an electoral system that allows voting frauds. But that isn’t the only front on which the hero has to wage a war. Two powerful and corrupt politicians, the state chief minister and his brother, are opposed to the crusader. The latter enters the electoral fray himself to stop the politicians from getting away with their misdeeds. Sarkar makes a strong case for electoral reforms in the country.

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Hindi, 2003

It is a rare Hindi film dealing with the eventful Emergency years during which many young people jumped into the bruising battle for the creation of a more just society

Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi

Director: Sudhir Mishra Starring: Kay Kay Menon, Shiney Ahuja, Chitrangda Singh

Streaming ON Netflix

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et in the 1970s, in the years before and after the Emergency promulgated during the reign of Indira Gandhi, Sudhir Mishra’s evocation of a turbulent period in Indian political history revolves around three Delhi college students, two boys and a girl, who go their own ways after completing their education. One of the boys, driven by revolutionary zeal, becomes an ant-caste activist, the other sets up an office in Delhi to pursue his business goals. The girl leaves for Oxford for higher studies.

A few years later, their paths cross again in the cauldron of a people’s movement that severely tests their idealism as the nation witnesses sweeping political and social changes.

Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi– the title comes from a poem by Mirza Ghalib – is a rare Hindi film dealing with the eventful Emergency years during which many young people jumped into the bruising battle for the creation of a more just society – a movement that is still on even as it comes up against ever stiffening resistance from the powers that be.

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Hindi, 2017

It revolves around a battle of attrition on the frontline of Indian democracy between an earnest poll official and a security force commander

Director: Amit V. Masurkar Starring: Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil, Raghubir Yadav

Newton

Streaming ON Amazon prime

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mit V. Masurkar’s political black comedy revolves around a battle of attrition on the frontline of Indian democracy between an earnest poll official and a security force commander, both charged with the same job but driven by contradictory compulsions.Newton is a low-keybut telling exploration of the workings of the electoral process. A newly recruited government official leads a small poll team under paramilitary protection to a remote, violenceprone part of Chhattisgarh that hasn’t voted in years.

The man, earnest to a fault, has unwavering faith in the electoral system and is determined to ensure a 100 per cent turnout despite the heavy odds that he is up against.The CRPF commander, in contrast, is more interested in getting out of the jungle with his men before sundown. It is an all-out face-off between earnestness and cynicism.

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Hindi / Marathi / Gujarati / English, 2014

The film lays bare the anomalies of lumbering judicial system that is ill equipped, if not outright reluctant, to serve the powerless

Director: Chaitanya Tamhane Starring: Vira Sathidar, Vivek Gomber, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Pradeep Joshi, Usha Bane

Court

Streaming ON youtube

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haitanya Tamhane’s remarkable debut film is a scalding narrative that lays bare the anomalies of lumbering judicial system that is ill equipped, if not outright reluctant, to serve the powerless. Narayan Kamble (played by real-life activist Vira Sathidar), feisty Dalit folk poet, is accused of abetting the suicide of a Mumbai manhole worker found dead in a noxious sewer. He sings of inconvenient truths and exhorts the downtrodden to fight for their rights. He is charged with inciting the impoverished municipal worker to take his own life. Tamhane develops this absurdist plotline into a caustic indictment of how insensitive law enforcement seeks to grind people into submission. The screenplay, marked by impressive acuity,reveals the deeply ingrained prejudices that breed skewed notions of sedition and national interest.

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Odia, 1994 The film laid bare several bitter truths in one sweep about the connection between rural distress and electoral skulduggery in the world’s largest democracy

Director: Biplab Ray Chaudhuri Starring: Bhima Singh, Durlav Singh, Bikash Das, Bidyut Prava Patnaik

Nirbachana

Not available for streaming

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n an Odisha village surrounded by stone quarries, the headman, contesting a state election, announces a bribe of Rs 100 for each vote. An impoverished couple – their son is about to wed and they need every extra rupee – ‘adopts’ a tuberculosis-afflicted beggar, their eyes on the money his vote will fetch. Before polling day, the old man’s condition worsens and he has to be carried through the quarries to a hospital. They lose their way and stray into a dynamite blast. The beggar is blown to pieces.That, in a nutshell, is the plot of the 1994 Odia-language film Nirbachana (Election), adapted by director Biplab Roy Chowdhury from a story

by Bengali writer Prafulla Roy. This remains one of the most savage takedowns of rural elections ever. The film laid bare several bitter truths in one sweep about the connection between rural distress and electoral skulduggery in the world’s largest democracy.

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Marathi, 1979

The film depicted the helplessness of the man in the street faced in a socio-political environment where his/her voice counts for nothing

Sinhasan

Director: Jabbar Patel Starring: Nilu Phule, Shriram Lagoo, Mohan Agashe, Nana Patekar, Satish Dubhashi, Jairam Hardikar

Streaming ON Youtube Movies

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inhasan, a seminal Marathi political drama scripted

by Vijay Tendulkar (on the basis of two novels by journalist Arun Sadhu) and directed by Dr. Jabbar Patel, forayed into the unstable world of a chief minister struggling to retain his authority over a state in the grip of drought, rising prices and youth unrest. The film depicted the helplessness of the man in the street faced in a socio-political environment where his/her voice counts for nothing. Although true to the the realities of the period that it is set in, Sinhasan, which featured some of Marathi cinema’s finest actors (Nilu Phule, Dr. Shriram Lagoo, Mohan Agashe) resonates to this day because of the universality and timelessness of the truths that it so powerfully articulated.

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Marathi, 2010

Incredible true story of a woman who surmounted a series of personal misfortunes on her way to emerging as a celebrated social worker who devoted her life to taking care of abandoned, homeless children

Director: Ananth Narayan, Mahadevan Starring: Tejaswini Pandit, Jyoti Chandekar, Upendra Limaye, Neena Kulkarni

Mee Sindhutai Sapkal

Streaming ON YUPPTV

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n this remarkable Marathi biopic, actor-director Ananth Narayan Mahadevan tells the incredible true story of a woman who surmounted a series of personal misfortunes on her way to emerging as a celebrated social worker who devoted her life to taking care of abandoned, homeless children. Born in a cattlegrazing family and married before her teens to a much older man who left her, Sindhutai overcame major obstacles to raise funds globally for an orphanage.

This inspirational, uplifting film serves to showcase the admirable spirit of a woman who refused to be cowed down by social circumstances loaded against her. Its efficacy stems from the realistic approach of the storytelling, which steers clear of overstatement of any of the facts of the heroine’s life.

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Hindi, 1999 The film probes the genesis of youth disaffection

Director: Gulzar Starring: Nana Patekar, Sunil Shetty, Tabu

Hu Tu Tu

Streaming ON Disney+hotstar

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n poet-lyricist Gulzar’s last directorial venture, which probes the genesis of youth disaffection and the rise of militancy, the mood is dark. Young people, frustrated with the way the nation is run, are angered enough to conspire to not only kill others but also themselves if the need be. They have turned into ticking time bombs.

Two of the principal characters in Hu Tu Tu, a rural schoolteacher-turned-politician and her mendacious mentor, are faces of the politics of expediency that has impacted the electoral sphere. “Politics naukrinahinhai, business hai, bahut bada business (Politics isn’t a job, it is business, big business),” says the woman. At the other end of the film’s spectrum is a Dalit activist and poet (played

by Nana Patekar, who also had a role in Dr. Jabbar Patel’s Sinhasan) who articulates the frustrations of the people in his songs, one of which goes: “Ghaplahai bhai ghaplahai (It’s all a scam).”

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Hindi, 2004

Dev was a piercing commentary on the fractious times that we live in

Director: Govind Nihalani Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Om Puri, Amrish Puri

Dev

Streaming ON Disney+hotstar

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ovind Nihalani plunges headlong into the world of policing, politics and popular disenchantment in this story of two senior police officers, lifelong friends, who finds themselves caught between a powerful politician. One of them is upright and law-abiding, the other is willing to compromise with principles. Circumstances take an unfortunate turn and a young law graduate and a beautiful young woman are dragged into a violent spiral that pushes the city to the edge. Innocent lives fall prey to the machinations of politicians bent upon fishing in trouble waters. With fine performances from Amitabh Bachchan, Om Puri and Kareena Kapoor, Dev was a piercing commentary on the fractious times that we live in.

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Hindi, 1964

One of the earliest Hindi films that addressed the nexus between crime and politics

Leader

Director: Ram Mukherjee Starring: Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Jayant

Not available for streaming

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ne of the earliest Hindi films that addressed the nexus between crime and politics, Leader was based on a story by Dilip Kumar. The actor plays an educated young man, Vijay, who edits a tabloid that specializes in provoking debates and questioning the status quo. He has disdain for self-serving politicians and revels in delivering combative speeches aimed at arousing the general public. He is accused of murdering a leading politician. Director Ram Mukherji’s film raised pressing issues that the people of India, a nation that had gained Independence less than two decades earlier, had begun to face as a result of unfulfilled promises. A little over a decade later, the Angry Young Man, embodied on the screen by Amitabh Bachchan, was born. Leader was the film where Vijay (the name of the male protagonist in a slew of 1970s and 1980s Bachchan films such as Deewar, Trishul and Shakti) was born.

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Malayalam, 1984

A political satire takes sharp potshots at the political scenario in Kerala

Panchavadi Palam

Director: K. G. George Starring: Bharath Gopi, Nedumudi Venu, Sukumari

Streaming ON Youtube movies

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pearheaded by a trio of great Malayali actors, Bharat Gopi, Thilakan and NedumudiVenu, K.G. George’s political satire takes sharp potshots at the political scenario in Kerala. A politician wants to have a perfectly serviceable bridge demolished so that a new one can be built in its place and named after him.

A rival politician opposes the plan until he figures out that the relocation of the bridge would lead not only to the construction of a new bridge but also the laying of a new road. The contracts for the road and the bridge are given to two separate contractors, one owing allegiance to the party in power, the other enjoying the support of the opposition. The opportunistic arrangement leads to the construction of a bridge that does not last long.

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Hindi, 2010

The film narrate a story rooted firmly in the depressing realities of rural India

Peepli Live

Director: Anusha Rizvi Starring: Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghubir Yadav, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Naseeruddin Shah

Streaming ON Netflix

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riter-director Anusha Rizvi’s debut feature, a disarmingly simple but remarkably powerful film, is a major triumph. She taps the strength of the medium to narrate a story rooted firmly in the depressing realities of rural India, but without ever going into paroxysms of self-righteous indignation.

Peepli Live lampoons an entire range of usual suspects -voyeuristicmediapersons, smarmy bureaucrats, scheming local-level political goons and self-serving rulers, all of whom want a piece of the sleepy village where a farmer is about to kill himself so that his family can survive. Thanks to the film’s nifty blend of humour and bathos, it does not slip into diatribe mode. It instead acquires the spiky edge of a pulsating yet biting satire that exposes the hypocrisy that informs our attitude towards the agrarian crisis that has been pushing farmers into a debt trap.

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Hindi, 2014 A ghost contests election and wins

Director: Nitesh Tiwari Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Parth Bhalerao, Boman Irani, Usha Jadhav, Sanjay Mishra, Brijendra Kala

Bhootnath Returns

Streaming ON Youtube movies

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n Bhootnath Returns, the electoral system is projected in a relatively positive light but the corrupt politician still comes out looking as shady as he has ever been on the big screen. Amitabh Bachchan, playing a benign ghost, takes on a shady politician and wins. The Election Commission, impressed with the film’s messaging, advised state governments to grant it tax exemption. What did Bhootnath Returns suggest?

That only a ghost stands a chance in the hurly-burly of fictional poll battles.

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Hindi, 2004 Swades tELLS a story of hope, courage and the power of collective will

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Gayatri Joshi, Kishori Ballal

Swades

Streaming ON Youtube movies

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ritten, produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Swades was a worthy follow-up to his Lagaan. It is justifiably regarded as one of the most ‘complete’ Bollywood films ever made. A NASA scientist of Indian origin returns to his roots and inspires his remote north Indian village to produce its own electricity. Swades told a story of hope, courage and the power of collective will. Shah Rukh Khan’s unstarry star turn and skilled blend of social philosophy and mainstream entertainment made it a film to remember.

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Marathi, 2014 Biopic about social activist Baba Amte’s son, Dr. Prakash Amte, a selfless doctor who has devoted his life to the uplift of the tribal people of the forests of eastern Maharashtra

Director: Samruddhi Porey Starring: Nana Patekar, Sonali Kulkarni, Mohan Agashe

Dr. Prakash Baba Amte

Not available for streaming

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tarring Nana Patekar in the eponymous role, this film, written and directed by SamruddhiPorey is a biopic about social activist Baba Amte’s son, Dr. Prakash Amte, a selfless doctor who has devoted his life to the uplift of the tribal people of the forests of eastern Maharashtra. Aided and supported at every step by his wife, Mandakini, a role played by Sonali Kulkarni, the doctor is a shining example of what community leadership can achieve when it is channeled into the work of making a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable. Hemalkasa, the dense forest where Dr Amte works, is today an unparalleled success story.

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Hindi, 1991 The film tells a story of the lives of several individuals residing in two villages who practice Swadhyaya – a ritual that involves the study – and understanding – of the self

Director: Shyam Benegal Starring: Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Girish Karnad, Shabana Azmi, Om Puri

Antarnaad

Streaming ON youtube movies

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he odd one out not only in this list but also in the oeuvre of the veteran filmmaker ShyamBenegal.

Antarnaad does not address either the social or the political so much as the intensely personal. To highlight the experiments of spiritual teacher and activist Pandurang VaijnathAthavale, which hinged on social change driven by a sense of the divine, the film tells a story of the lives of several individuals residing in two villages who practiseSwadhyaya – a ritual that involves the study – and understanding – of the self. Five people – including a poor fisherman, a smuggler and a widow looking for revenge after the death of her husband – undergo profound changes. The film has a cast that includes Shabana Azmi, Om Puri and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.

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Tamil, 1996

Director: S. Shankar Starring: Kamal Haasan, Manisha Koirala, Urmila Matondkar, Sukanya

Indian

Not available for streaming

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vigilante action film elevated by Kamal Haasan’s bravura performance in a dual role, Indian revolved around a former freedom fighter who mutates into a violent crusader against crime and corruption. The protagonist employs an ancient martial arts form in his mission against the wrongdoers. The Shankar-directed film was until the late 1990s the biggest box office success in the history of Tamil cinema. Indian has a message to convey, but it is laced with popular ingredients aimed at the masses. Special effects, elaborate song and dance routines, action sequences and of course the lead actor playing two distinct characters captured the imagination of the audience. The cast of Indian includes Bollywood actresses Manisha Koirala and Urmila Matondkar. A Hindi version of the film (titled Hindustani) was released nationwide.

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www.cinemasofindia.com

NFDC’s

FILM FESTIVAL 9 Languages, 42 films, Live Archival Footage

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he National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) is currently hosting an online patriotic film festival, showcasing Independence Day themed patriotic movies. The festival, a part of Independence Day Celebrations 2020 by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will stream movies at the website, www.cinemasofindia.com, free of cost till August 21.

It aims to showcase Indian history that marks the bravery of freedom fighters.

Some of the titles include Shyam Benegal’s 1996 26

“Gandhi Se Mahatma Tak”, Bimal Roy’s 1944 acclaimed Bengali film “Udayer Pathey”, Mani Ratnam’s Tamil hit “Roja” (1992) and Rajkumar Santoshi’s 2002 drama, “The Legend of Bhagat Singh”. Sir Richard Attenborough’s 1982 classic “Gandhi” will be made accessible and can be enjoyed by people with vision and hearing impairment. Films have been sourced from NFDC, National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Children’s Film Society India (CFSI) and Films Division.

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Hindi, 1982

Gandhi

Director: Richard Attenborough Starring: Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Sheth, Saeed Jaffery, Virendra Razdan, Candice Bergen

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he film spans 56 out of Gandhi’s 79 years. It starts with his days in South Africa, where Gandhi is seen as a young attorney, who is thrown out of a first class compartment in spite of having a valid ticket. Angered at this humiliation, Gandhi decides to protest for the rights of Indians and other coloured people. It is here that he meets with his first success. His fame spreads to India and he is invited to return home to take part in the freedom struggle.

On arrival, he is shocked at the poverty in the country and undertakes to travel all over the country to witness, at first hand, the atrocities of the British Empire. Gandhi’s struggle to win freedom for India through his non-violent approach, his belief that men are more good than evil and his spiritual ideas all form a part of this saga, the biography of a fascinating world leader - both spiritual and political.

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The Legend Of Bhagat Singh

Hindi, 2002 Director: Rajkumar Santoshi Starring: Ajay Devgan, Raj Babar, Farida Jalal, Amrita Rao

Born in British India, Bhagat Singh witnesses numerous atrocities during his childhood and grows up to become one of the most fearless freedom fighters in the country.

English, 1996

The Making Of The Mahatma

Director: Shyam Benegal Starring: Paul Slabolepszy, Rajat Kapur, Keith Stevenson, Pallavi Joshi

MohandasKaramchand Gandhi, a young England-educated barrister at-law, then practising in Rajkot in Kathiawad, is invited by an Indian firm in South Africa to handle their law suit. The Making of the Mahatma is M.K. Gandhi’s early story of experiments with truth, which gave to mankind a new weapon to fight for freedom from all kinds of oppression; it is also the most civilized and humane. The process of transformation from Gandhi, the man, to Gandhi, the Mahatma is as exciting as it is thought-provoking.

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Veera Pandiya Kattabomman

Tamil, 1959 Director: B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu Starring: Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, S.Varalakshmi, Ragini

After the East India Company forces Kattabomman,theking of Panchalankurichi, to pay taxes and be their subordinate, the latter decides to fight against them.

Roja

Tamil, 1992 Director: Mani Ratnam Starring: Arvind Swami, Madhoo

Roja, a simple girl from a village in Tamil Nadu, makes desperate efforts to find her husband, Rishi, after he is kidnapped by militants during a secret undercover mission in Jammu and Kashmir.

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1971 - Beyond Borders

malayalam, 2017 Director: Major Ravi Starring: Mohanlal

After saving a Pakistani commander’s life during a UN mission, Colonel Mahadevan reveals that his father Major Sahadevan had killed the commander’s father during the 1971 India-Pakistan War.

Udayer Pathey

Bengali, 1944 Director: Bimal Roy Starring: Maya Basu, Biswanath Bhaduri, Radhamohan Bhattacharya

Anup, an idealistic writer and Gopa the daughter of a rich mill owner fall in love but Gopa’s father doesn’t approve of their love so they decide to leave the fake world and walk on the path of love.

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Hagalu Vesha

Kannada, 2000 Director: Baraguru Ramachandrappa Starring: Shiva Rajkumar

It is the story of a man who revolts against the British rule and their taxation policy.

Tango Charlie

Hindi, 2005 Director: Mani Shankar Starring: Ajay Devgan, Bobby Deol Tanishaa

When the war breaks out between India and Pakistan, riots erupt in North India. Later, BSF trooper Tarun and his battalion are sent to Kargil, where they face a challenge that will decide his fate.

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Chittagong

Hindi, 2012

Director: Bedabrata Pain Ramachandrappa Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddique, Raj Kumar, Barry John, Vijay Verma, Delzad Hiwale

CHITTAGONG tells the incredible story of how a boy becomes a revolutionary, and having joined the rebels, battles nagging self-doubts and reluctance on one hand, and a formidable enemy on the other, to achieve an impossible triumph.

Chittagong is an uplifting action-drama, made more compelling by the fact that it is true.

Khakee

Hindi, 2004 Director: Rajkumar Santoshi Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

DCP Anant and his team are assigned to escort an alleged terrorist to Mumbai. However, a rogue police officer makes their task tough as he orders his men to stop them from reaching Mumbai.

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Qayamat- City Under Threat

Hindi, 2003 Director: Harry Baweja Starring: Ajay Devgan, Sunil Shetty, Sanjay Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan

CBI officer Akram recruits Rachit, a convict, to help save 213 tourists held hostage by three terrorists, Ali, Abbas and Laila, as he was their former associate.

Battalion 609

Hindi, 2019 Director: Brijesh Batuknath Tripathi Starring: Vicky Ahuja, Shoaib Ibrahim, Elena Kazan

A verbal fight between the Indian Army and the Pakistani Army escalates and they challenge each other for a cricket match where the losing team must move their post 18 kilometres back.

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Life of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

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Hindi, 2004 Director: Live footage/NFAI

After resigning from the presidential post of the Indian National Congress, Subhas plays an important role in India’s freedom struggle during World War II.

Bapu Ne Kaha Tha

Hindi, 1962 Director: Vijay Bhatt Starring: Jankidas, Jugal Kishore, Majnu

Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, affectionately known to his followers as Bapu, was a great believer in truth and gave the motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’ – Truth Always Prevails. Raju, a village boy, decides to adopt the motto. However this puts him at odds with his village folks who have forgotten the meaning and value of in truth. Can a small kid refresh the memory of an entire village and make them believe in truth again? Morarji Desai features in this film, talking to children about the childhood of Mahatma Gandhi.

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Abhi Kal Ki Baat Hai (Not So Long Ago)

Hindi, 1970 Director: Clement Baptista

Mahatma Gandhi is considered the father of the nation. His principles of justice, truth and non-violence left a lasting impression on the world. This film aims to inspire kids towards these principles by depicting the life of Gandhi through photographs and exquisite dolls.

Heda Hoda (The Blind Camel)

Hindi, 2003 Director: Vinod Ganatra Starring: Ashok Banthia, Swati Dave, Suhasini Mulay

Sonu lives with his sister Lakshmi and parents in a village in Kutch, Gujarat bordering Pakistan. One day when his father falls sick, Sonu and Lakshmi volunteer to graze the camels. During a food break, the camels drift away. Sonu goes in search only to find himself lost in the wilderness with no camel in sight.

He unknowingly crosses the border and lands at herdsman Razak’s home in Pakistan. Concerned by his plight, Razak quietly takes Sonu and leaves him across the border with the promise to find and deliver his camels.

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Chota Sipahi (The Little Soldier)

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Hindi / English, 2003 Director: Jayshree Kanal & A S Kanal Starring: Om Bhutkar

Jose is a young Goan boy growing up during the freedom movement of the state in the 60s. Though young and thus expected to remain ignorant of the political winds brewing all over, he becomes acutely aware of the grave injustice everywhere and the sacrifice made by those around him. This instills in him a sense of responsibility that becomes instrumental in saving many lives during a crucial military operation

Andhra Kesari

Telugu, 1983 Director: Vijayachander Starring: Vijayachander, Murali Mohan, Sridhar, J.V.Ramana Murthy, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao

Andhra Kesari is a historical Telugu film on the life of Tanguturi Prakasam.

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Harun Arun

Gujarati, 2009 Director: Vinod Ganatra Starring: Hemang Gor, Swati Dave, Nilesh Mohite, Dhairya Gor

Harun is a Muslim boy from Pakistan. He enters India through the desert border of Kutch in Gujarat with his grandfather who is searching for his best friend. But Harun gets separated from him and is taken in by a kind Hindu family who mistake his name to be Arun – a Hindu name. Harun wins over the village with his loving charm and courage. Yet when his Pakistani roots are discovered, his intention is questioned by adults corrupted by the biases and prejudices of religion and nationality

Senani Sane Guruji

Marathi, 1995 Director: Ramesh Deo Starring: Alka Athalye, Yashwant Datt, Shrikant Moghe, Nilu Phule, Navin Chehre, Paresh Mokashi

Renowned social reformer and freedom fighter, Sane Guruji was born in a poor Brahmin family.

Though his mother died young, she remained a huge influence on the young Sane who completed his education against innumerable odds and became a teacher.

He joined the Indian freedom movement and was jailed many times. He also fought against social evils like the caste system and women’s subjugation. Adapted from a biography of Sane Guruji

by Raja Mangalvadekar, the film that has won many awards.

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Spread The Light Of Freedom

Musical, 1996 Director: Film Division

An inspirational video that infuses feel of patriotism and encourages youth to keep the spirit of the country alive through well known sports stars of India.

The Flag (My India, Our India)

Musical, 1999 Director: Film Division

A film which shows the love children have for the flag of our country.

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Ae Vatan Tere Liye

Hindi, 1999 Director: Films Division

The film recollects the historical betrayals, how the prosperous and peace loving people of India had been disturbed by incursions, terrorism and aggressions. But our patriotic jawans with the support of the Govt. and the united people of the nation have always successfully defended the country and will ever continue to do so.

Shadat

Hindi, 2001 Director: Films Division

The film highlights the passion for patriotism among the people of Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, where every army has dedicated atleast one member of family in defence services.

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NM 552 Vande Mataram

Hindi, 2007 Director: Films Division

The strugle of Yesterday, the progress we are making today and our aspirations for Tomorrow are all strung on this mantra “Vande Mataram”.

Sat Sat Pranam

Hindi, 2008 Director: Films Division

Film based on song commemorating 150 years of war for independence.

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Satyamev Jayate

Hindi, 1972 Director: Films Division

The film features Lata Mangeshkar’s rendering of the song `satyameva Jayate’ inter-woven with dynamic visual depicting the country’s readiness to safeguard its territorial integrity.

13 04 1919

Hindi, 2019 Director: Films Division

The Film is about Jaliyanwalaba gh 13.04.1919

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India Independent

English, 1949 Director: Films Division

This film depicts India’s prolonged struggle for freedom. It recreates on the screen the history of foreign rule in India for nearly two hundred years.

The story of Indian patriots, from the time of the Mutiny of 1857 (the First War of Independence) to the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi is pictorially recorded.

India Wins Freedom

English, 1985 Director: Films Division

Part of the Freedom Struggle film series, this film culminates with the signing of the Constitution of India, which was the realization of a ninetyyear long struggle for independence. This film traces the history of evolution and framing of the Constitution of India.

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We The People of India

English, 1986 Director: Films Division

Part of the Freedom Struggle film series, this film culminates with the signing of the Constitution of India, which was the realization of a ninetyyear long struggle for independence.

This film traces the history of evolution and framing of the Constitution of India.

The Flag Flies High

English, 2011 Director: Films Division

Film depicts the history and evolution of India National Flag.

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Sardar Patel: A Nation Stands United

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English, 2016 Director: Films Division

The Film is a tribute to the ‘Iron Man of India’for his contribution in uniting India as one Nation.

A Song Eternal

English, 1976 Director: Films Division

Vande Mataram is India’s song eternal.

This song was written by the writer-patriot Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875; however it came to the public through the writer’s novel ‘Anand Math’ which was published in 1882. The British engineered partition of Bengal in 1905 stirred the nation to the call of Vande Mataram, saluting the Motherland - Bharat. This hymn to the Motherland was set to different melodies by great vocalists such as Vishnu Digambar Palushkar, Omkarnath Thakur, Master Krishna Rao....Vande Mataram was the song that inspired people of India to rise against imperialism.

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