Gamak Ghar, T For Taj Mahal headline Indic Film Utsav line-up

The inaugural Indic Film Utsav 2020 is preparing for a virtual launch this year. The independent film festival will see a line-up of 80 Indian films in 18 different languages dealing with subjects specific to India and set in the country.

The festival will be hosted on a secure DRM-enabled OTT platform and the films will be available round-the-clock starting Thursday 12 November through Sunday 15 November. There is no admission fee.

The festival line-up includes the critically acclaimed Gamak Ghar (2019), the Maithili-language feature by Achal Mishra, which was premiered at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival last year, and Kireet Khurana's T For Taj Mahal, the story of a young man's journey to bring literacy to his village.

Speaking about the festival, Harikiran Vadlamani, founder of the Indic Academy, said, "I am very happy with how Indic Film Utsav has shaped up. I know the team has worked very hard to put together this offering. Please take time and watch the films. You are at home and here is a four-day film festival that is free — you won’t be disappointed."

Speaking about the line-up, Danji Thotapalli, chief curator and festival director, said, "Gamak Ghar, a Maithili-language film, will remind you of something that you have forgotten, an experience that you had in your childhood. Shonajhurir Bhoot will scare you for sure. T for Taj Mahal is a young man's journey to bring literacy to his village through a unique social enterprise. Myriad is a sci-fi short. Blood Buddhas will reveal to you the dirty business of the illegal trade of deities. The Flowers And The Gemstones will immerse you. Kanneeti Katti is a different take of Rayalaseema.

"These are just a handful. I can go on and on! Here is what I promise — each of our films will touch you at places that you did not know existed."

Explaining how the films were picked, with the common element of 'positivity', head of programming Nikita Hattangady said, "Keeping in mind the goals we have set for ourselves, we have picked films that span across multiple genres. All our films have a positive aspect to them. We feel this would be just what we need during this uncertain and tough year."

Hattangadi said 21 of the 80 films are full-length films while the short films have been programmed as bundles. "On top of the bundles of short films and ultra-short films, we also created bundles that are focused on children and wildlife," she said. "All films in the Indic Film Utsav are family-oriented movies."

The festival offers free registrations online for the entire four-day event, with viewers able to register and attend the inaugural ceremony online, join panel discussions and view films.