Bollywood Sci-Fi at Indian Film Fest

If the idea of Bollywood science fiction doesn’t immediately conjure images of ridiculously good looking Indian people dancing and singing with a bright blue alien then you must have missed ‘Koi…Mil Gaya’ (2013) at the Indian Film Festival currently adding some cinematic spice to the city.

Praised as Bollywood’s first sci-fi thriller, ‘Koi…Mil Gaya’ (I… Found Someone) tells the story of a mentally impaired young man named Rohit Mehra who discovers his late father’s scientific work and uses it to contact extra-terrestrials, one of whom is left behind by the mothership.

If this sounds somewhat like ‘E.T’ (1982) that’s because the film somewhat plays out like ‘E.T.’ Except with undercurrents of discriminating against the mentally challenged as well as issues of faith and friendship.

With an almost three hour running time and though the film does eventually follow sci-fi genre conventions, it has plenty of time to delve into Bollywood’s characteristic melodrama as well the requisite grinning song and dance numbers brought to life by heartthrob Hrithik Roshan and the dazzling Preity Zinta.

This is science-fiction as you have never seen it before.

Yes, the lead character does transport an alien to safety on his bicycle and later a scooter. And yes, there is a scene where an alien hand meets a human one ever so profoundly but the film is surely something new. Not the least of which is its hammy mood interspersed with episodes of high drama in a film that deals with extra-terrestrials.

Though you’ve missed the science fiction, Bollywood remains Bollywood and there is much more on offer for the rest of the week at the Roman Catholic Church Hall. Mystery abounds in the action comedy ‘Badshaah’ (1999) starring Shahrukh Khan at 19h00 this evening.

Issues of culture, love and Americanisation are the themes in the romantic family drama ‘Pardes’ (1997) being screened tomorrow at 19h00. And the festival ends on a dramatic note with ‘Black’ (2005). A film that tells the unfathomable story of a deaf and blind girl whose teacher injects some colour into her eternal world of black. The film stars Rani Mukerji and Bollywood super star Amitabh Bachchan.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to set your eyeballs on India and relax in the laughing, dancing and dramatic world of beautiful Bollywood.

Screening Times:

5 February – 19h00 – ‘Baadshah’ (Comedy). Directed by Abbas-Mustan.

6 February – 19h00 – ‘Pardes’ (Romantic Family Drama) Directed by Subhash Ghai.

7 February – 19h00 – ‘Black’ (Drama). Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

All screenings are free. Refreshments and authentic Indian cuisine will be for sale The films all have subtitles and some are in both English and Hindi. For more information, please contact: 061 226 036 or 061 270 6370.

marth__vader on Twitter or martha@namibian.com.na

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