Celebrating the poetry of 'silent films'
During the event, Shyam Benegal also released the book titled ‘Poster Bolte Hain’, published by IGNCA. This book focuses on film posters and their history
Introducing people to the world of silent films, Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, organised a festival from September 14 – 16. Titled 'Silent film festival', the event was inaugurated by well-known filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
During the function, Shyam Benegal also released the book 'Poster Bolte Hain' published by IGNCA. This book focuses on film posters and their history and is written by Iqbal Rizvi and, presumed by Gautam Chatterjee, former media controller of IGNCA.
Shyam Benegal inaugurating the festival said that according to today's cinema, these films cannot be understood, you have to read them. Suresh Sharma, the curator of the festival, while speaking about the function, said, "In our country, the concerts of silent films have been organized once or twice but this is the first time we are organizing a film festival. Through this celebration, our aim is to introduce present generation to the films that were made in that period."
Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA said, "IGNCA wanted to do some serious work in the field of cinema, in the same effort and this 'Poster Bolte Hain' published in Hindi is presented to you. When Ramabahadur Rai, president, IGNCA came to the center two-and half-a-half years ago, we had decided that 50 percent of the Center's publication will be done in Hindi and today the book on the occasion of Hindi Diwas is a sincere effort. It's a matter of pride for us."
Atul Tiwari, said, "Even today, the cinema can be seen in many colors, but the movie mode has been born from silent cinema".
President IGNCA, Ram Bahadur Rai said that September 14 is a historic day in the history of India's independence, and Shyam Benegal chose the day for this program. "The beginning of Indian cinema started from Raja Harishchandra, a film produced by Dada Saheb Phalke, which was based on the search of truth. IGNCA is also moving forward on the same path. "
After the inauguration of this film festival, three films of Dada Saheb Phalke including Raja Harishchandra (1913), Shri Krishna Birth (1917) and Kaliya Mardan (1919) were shown. On the second day of the ceremony, Himanshu Rai's 'The Light of Asia (1925)', 'A Throw of Dice'(1929) and Kalipada Das' 'Jamai Babu' (1931) were shown. On the last day, 'The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1903), Lanka Dahan (1917), Shearaj (1928) was shown.
