City director’s film finds place in US varsity’s syllabus

Pranav Kulkarni Posted: May 23, 2008 at 0009 hrs
Pune, May 22 Pune might be the Detroit of India, but at the moment it wouldn't be inappropriate to call it the Hollywood of India. It's India shining. And this time to make India proud is Mahek; a film by Pune based director Kranti Kanade. In a recent development, Mahek will be screened at Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio as a part of their syllabus of the subject- Integrative studies programme and the teaching of Modern India.

Director Kranti Kanade is all excited about the development. "I never thought something like this could happen. But I am extremely happy that my film is selected as a part of the syllabus in the US and I am proud of the fact that students in US will learn about India through my film," said Kanade.

The 90-minute film is the story of 11-year-old girlwho dreams of becoming the very best in everything that she does but is unsure what she is best at. The plot thickens when an old magic less fairy enters her life. The film is an introspective Hindi film that sensitively portrays the world of children and their rights.

"It is a portrayal of my childhood. The kind of treatment I got from my teachers was a biased one. In this I have tried to question the teachers and I feel that I have been successful in raising the questions related to the rights of children," said Kanade.

Kanade also said that it is the portrayal of today's Indian society that has made this film become a part of the syllabus at the Otterbein College.

The film is gleaning awards at a number of film festivals including the Best Film Award at the 10 th Arpa Film Festival, Hollywood along with the Best Film Platinum Award at the 41 st Houston Film Festival. It has been showcased at festivals in Frankfurt, New York, Cleaveland and St Louis. Previously included in the syllabus were the films- Mr and Mrs Iyer by Aparna Sen, Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri and Gandhi by Attenborough.