Film screenings & workshop by GRAFTII Nepal

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: The Nepal chapter of GRAFTII (Graduates of Film & Television Institute), Pune is all set to give back to the Nepali film industry. With support from the Embassy of India and B.P Koirala India- Nepal Foundation, GRAFTII Nepal is organizing “Cinema for the new generation”, a three day film workshop for Nepali film makers and enthusiasts. GRAFTII Nepal will be officially launched by one of India’s most renowned directors, Shyam Benegal on February 10. [break]

On February 11 he will be addressing a workshop on direction being held at the Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka. The workshop will begin at 10 am and end at 3pm. Benegal’s celebrated film; “Welcome to Sajjanpur” will also be screened at Kumari Cinema Hall, Naxal at 3pm on the same day. A discussion on the film will later follow in Benegal’s presence.

February 12 will see cinematographer Rajen Kothari discuss cinematography techniques at the Yala Maya Kendra. 17 short films made in the involvement of GRAFTII Nepal graduates will similarly be screened for free at the Nepal Bharat Library, NAC Building, New Road.

The last day of the workshop on February 13 will have sound recordist Rakesh Ranjan address the workshop. “We are organizing the workshop as part of the official launch of GRAFTII Nepal,” informed Alok Tiwari, general secretary of the organization. “We hope that Nepali film enthusiasts will benefit from the workshop. Participation is by invitation only,” he added.

2011 also marks the 50th anniversary of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. The Institute has an A list of Almuni members who have succeeded as actors, directors and technicians in Bollywood. Some names include Jaya Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah. In Nepal more than 40 individuals have graduated with a diploma from the Institute since the past 40 years. They are all serving as veterans of the Nepali film industry.

Bio of the facilitators of the workshop

Shyam Benegal

Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975) Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977) he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the “middle cinema” in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to be called New or Alternate cinema.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. On 8 August 2007, he was awarded the highest award in Indian cinema for lifetime achievement, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2005. He has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times.

Rajen Kothari

Kothari, Faculty, Cinematography at Whistling Woods International (WWI) is a cinematographer of international repute with over 25 feature films to his credit, including recent films such as Shyam Benegal’s Well Done Abba (2009) and Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008) and Bose, the Forgotten Hero (2005).

After having studied Motion Picture Photography at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, Rajen initially worked as first A C, before making a mark as a DoP with directors such as Prakash Jha, Rahul Rawail, Rajkumar Santoshi, Gulzar and Shyam Benegal. Among the films he has shot are Zubeida(2001), Hari-Bhari (2000), Samar (1999), Godmother (1999), Mrityudand (1997),Ghayal, (1990), Pestonjee (1988), Dacait (1987), Damul (1985) and Hip Hip Hooray (1984), to name a few.

He has also photographed many documentaries, short films, ad films and music videos. He holds awards from UPFJA, Filmfare and Uptron for Best Cinematography and from WBFJA for Best Film for Purush (1994) which was also directed by him. As Director, he later followed this up in 2007, with a comedy caper, Panga Naa Lo.

Rakesh Ranjan

A graduate of FTII Pune, Rakesh has been working alongside the leading directors and producers of Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata for the last 33 years. His Audiography credits to date cover 140 Hindi released feature films. He has worked in international documentaries for BBC and CBC. He pioneered the incorporation of digital technology in all aspects of motion picture production in India. His professional achievements include four Filmfare awards, seven nominations and two wins for Screen awards, three nominations and one win for Zee awards and one IIFA awards for films such as Bhoothnath (2008), Halla Bol (2008), Golmaal (2006), Asoka (2001), Aitraaz (2004), Aks (2001), Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), Pardes (1997), Barsaat (1995), Damini (1993) and Taal (1999). He is also the Guest Faculty at FTII and SRFTI.

List of films being screened

February, 11 – B&W Films