The Studio

We are excited to be a part of Coming Together in Skokie, the Village’s new community cultural celebration. Through a multi-agency partnership, Coming Together in Skokie seeks to build knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of our diverse backgrounds by highlighting one culture each year in a series of educational, literary, and culinary events. The 2010 focus is the Asian Indian population, with dozens of events scheduled throughout the community until mid-March. As part of the festivities, we’ve got several cinematic offerings over the next month.

On Monday, February 15th, we’ll be showing Bride and Prejudice in the Petty Auditorium at 7PM. A Bollywood-style movie based on Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice. When Lalita Bakshi (played by international star Aishwarya Rai) meets wealthy American businessman William Darcy, sparks begin to fly. Meanwhile, Lalita’s mother is determined to arrange advantageous marriages for all of her daughters. Is it love or not? You decide. Also starring Martin Henderson. Directed by Gurinder Chadha, who directed Bend it Like Beckham.

Jane Austen aficionados, take note: Emma, too, is being remade à la Bollywood. According to The Bollywood Ticket, “Emma” will become “Aisha” and will be set in contemporary Delhi. Aisha will be played by Slumdog Millionaire star Anil Kapoor’s daughter, Sonam Kapoor. (Sorry, no news yet when the movie will be available in the U.S. or at the Library, but you know we’ll keep you posted.)

Speaking of The Bollywood Ticket, We’re bringing site creator Jennifer Hopfinger to the Library on Wednesday, February 10 at 7pm. She’ll be bringing the inside scoop for anyone looking to learn more about India’s incredible (and incredibly prolific) film industry. To register, visit the Library’s events calendar.

Coming Together in Skokie is not just about the movies. We’ve got a host of other programs, performances, and discussions exploring the culture of India. Visit our Coming Together in Skokie website for the full list of programs and how you can participate.

[Cross-posted from The Bookshelf]

For those who liked the popular movie Slumdog Millionaire, a recommendation would be an older movie, Salaam Bombay, a Hindi movie released in 1988.    A young boy named Chaipu runs away from a travelling circus and hops a train to Bombay where he must learn to survive on the streets.  The street world depicted is the real mccoy for not one scene was shot in a studio. Chaipu is a sensitive boy who forges relationships with a young drug dealer, a prostititute and her daughter, and a young girl who has been brutally thrust into a life of prostitution.  The street children themselves provided the source of inspiration for the screenplay.  The directer interviewed them and talked with them about their lives on the streets of Bombay.  Those enlisted for the movie attended workshops where they had to learn how to act in front of a camera.  The end result is an effecting film with unforgettable characters, and wonderful visuals in a story with no easy answers.    

 Two book recommendations  with similar themes include The City of Joy by Dominque LaPierre and Song of Kahunsha by Anana Bhai. City of Joy, which takes place in Calcutta has many well-developed characters and gives you a vivid picture of the slums of Calcutta and the people who inhabit them.  Along with the grim aspects of daily existence we witness the in credible resilence and courage of the inhabitants.  The Song of Kahunsha by Anana Bhai takes place in the slums of Bombay (Mumbai) and focuses on the life of a 10 -year- old orphan named Chamdi. Born and raised in Bombay himself, the author presents a grim picture of the prevailing poverty in India and the plight as well as the resilence of the children who are forced to live on the streets.

If you need a break from India’s slums but still want to stay in the country, you might try the breathtakingly beautiful romantic epic, Jodhaa Akbar a story which takes place in the 16th century. The great Mughal emperor, Akbar, marries the beautiful Hindu Rajput princess, Jodhaa, as part of a political and religious alliance but the two eventually fall in love.  The brilliiant jewel-like colors evident in costumes and settings are remininiscent of those used in many Indian miniature paintings and truly present a feast for the eyes. A.R. Rahman’s beautiful musical score is a wonderful accompaniment to the movie.