SUPAKINO presents “Revolutionary Cinema”: a double bill of MOTHER INDIA (1957) & I AM CUBA (1964). Both films will be introduced by Ranjit S. Ruprai and include post-screening discussions with film studies teacher and researcher Dr. Kulraj Phullar.
MOTHER INDIA (1957) Dir. Mehboob Khan
Mehboob Khan takes an individual woman’s story of rural poverty and hardship (Nargis as farmer Radha) and makes it worthy of a grand epic. Radha’s struggle against continual tragedies throughout her life, yet surviving with dignity intact, symbolises the effort of a newly independent nation within international structures that still favoured former colonial powers. The title intentionally references and rebukes Katherine Mayo’s American book of the same name: an anti-Indian diatribe from 1927 arguing against self-rule. 30 years later, Khan’s proud Mother India became India's first submission and nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
BOMBAY MIX: Indian cinema meets the rest of the world in a mix of movies that share themes, stories and genres. Part of an on-going programme of double bills that invite audiences to explore cinema and make new connections.
Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/filmhub
