Literature in Indian cinema: A series of fascinating tales set to unfold at ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival 2015

- Cinematic immortality and the changing face of Indian cinema to take centerstage -

As the line between media blurs, literature and film narrative have become more seamless. This season, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival will unfold the mystery behind cinematic adaptations of literature, in the changing face of the Indian film industry that has fast adapted itself to this emerging genre.

In this segment, Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali” and Dev Anand’s “Guide” are the milestones of yesteryear while Bhardwaj’s “Haider” and “Omkara”, and Aamir Khan’s “Three Idiots” are some of the Indian blockbusters of contemporary cinema. Other book based movies like Deepa Mehta’s film “Midnight’s Children” based on Salman Rushdie’s novel of the same name or “Slumdog Millionaire”, based on Vikas Swarup’s bestseller “Q&A” have set new standards in this symbiotic relationship between literature and film.

From the Indian film industry, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, prominent director Vishal Bhardwaj, renowned actressWaheeda Rehman, mainstream poet Javed Akhtar and scriptwriter Ramkumar Singh (who wrote the political satire “Zed Plus”) will be present at the festival. In conversation with them will be screenwriter Basharat Peer, film historian, writer & curator Nasreen Munni Kabir, acclaimed playwright & actor Girish Kanad, popular British theater director Tim Supple and renowned writer-lyricist Prasoon Joshi in their respective sessions. Noted film critic Anupama Chopra will also participate in the Festival, as will actress Shabana Azmi who will read poetry written by her father, the great Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi.

While Naseeruddin Shah will be discussing his autobiography, “And then one day,” with acclaimed actor and playwrightGirish Karnad, the classic Bollywood beauty Waheeda Rehman will be seen in conversation with her biographer and film historian Nasreen Munni Kabir, and writer and mythologist Arshia Sattar. Along with discussion on Rehman's landmark films and roles, the veteran actor will also share her views on the changing face of Indian cinema.

The festival will also see Vishal Bhardwaj, director of the most celebrated film of the year – “Haider”, in conversation with journalist, author and scriptwriter Basharat Peer and renowned theatre director Tim Supple, discussing the movie which highlighted the recent political history of the conflicted Kashmir valley in the context of Shakespearean tragedy. The session will also throw light on the anguish of Hamlet’s dilemma as well as other Bollywood interpretations of Vishal Bhardwaj.

Adding to the Bollywood flavor in a poetic way, Javed Akhtar, renowned poet, lyricist and screen writer, will take the literary enthusiasts on a journey of discovery through emotions, poetic expressions, subtexts and intangibles, of film songs from the interlinked Urdu, Hindi and Hindustani traditions. In other session, the exhilaratingly multifaceted and prolific master of words and music, Prasoon Joshi along with poet and musicologist Yatindra Mishra, will discuss the Indian traditions of popular poetry, music, screenplays, advertising, Bollywood and the secret life of words.

With one of the most varied and diverse line-up under the ‘Literature in Cinema’ theme, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, scheduled to take place from 21^st – 25^th January, 2015, will explore collaborations of literature with cinema and its mainstream appeal.

Registration for the Festival is FREE, open to all. All visitors must pre-register on the Festival’s website atwww.jaipurliteraturefestival.org

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