Events

Bihar Information Minister Arjun Rai said the film festival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"The film festival will open with Aamir Khan's directorial debut `Tare Zameen Par' and conclude with a seminar on the development of Bhojpuri cinema," Rai said Friday.

Of them, the four are the country's regional language films (Kannada, Telugu, Marathi and Bhojpuri), six the recent Hindi-language hits, five classical Hindi language films, six foreign language films and one in the category of children's films, said principal secretary, information and public relations department (IPRD), Rajesh Bhushan.

In the foreign language category are Metropolis (German) directed by Fritz Lang, La Strada (Swedish) by Fredrico Fellini, Virgin Springs (Swedish) by Ingmar Bergman, Roshoman (Japanese) by Akira Kurosawa, Nanuk of the North (English, USA) by Robert Flaherty and Battleship Potemkin (Russian) by Sergi Eisenstine.

The Hindi language films to be screened during the festival are Tare Zameen Par, Salaam Bomaby, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Mujhse Dosti Karoge, Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho, Mirch Masala, Gandhi Se Mahatma Tak, Dil Dosti, Bheja Fry, Chak De India, Jab We Met, Khosla Ka Ghosla, and Black and White.

Similarly, the regional language films to be screened are Kab Ayibu Anganwa Hamar (Bhojpuri), Ghat Sharadh (Kannada), Ayodhya Ka Raja (Marathi), and Tila Danam (Telugu).

While the inaugural and closing ceremonies would be held at Shri Krishna Memorial Hall here, a seminar on the topic "Changing Bihar and Role of Cinema" has also been scheduled at the same venue. Among the film actors, directors and producers who would be present during the festival are Manoj Bajpai, Prakash Jha, Sanjay Tripathi, Anurag Sinha and Manish Tiwari. Usha Nair from National Film Development Corporation would also grace the festival.

Heavy rush of shoppers was seen in Kadam Kuan, Station Road, Dak Bungalow Road, Boring Road, and Machhua Toli where a large number of students and women were seen doing most of the purchasing for the festival that honors the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom.

Idols of Saraswati were already put in place at most of the pandals though devotees were not allowed to get a glimpse of them until the door opens for public viewing on early Monday morning.

Shop-owners, however, complained of less than satisfactory sales blaming rising prices of all items associated with the festival.

On Saturday, noted classical singer Purnima Chowdhary enthralled the audience by her impeccable rendition of various folk songs based on a number of Ragas. She was assisted by Tabla maestro Pandit Sudhir Pandey who kept the listeners mesmerized by his dexterous fingers for hours.

The cultural ambience was further enhanced by the Kathak dances of small girls who immediately won the hearts of hundreds of art lovers who had gathered there to enjoy the music and dance that once put Patna on the nation's cultural map in the early '70s.

Ninad Music Academy secretary Neelam Chowdhary, who also welcomed the guests, choreographed, and participated in 'Ganga' - a dance highlighting the problem of pollution and the negative effect of western music on the Indian culture.

On Sunday, visitors will be treated with performances by noted Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj, Padmashree recipient Harmonium player Mahmud Dhaulpur, Tabla guru Akram Khan, and singer Ustad Masqoor Ali, the organizers of the event said.

"It is the first of its kind that has been organised in Bihar. You come to know about the fast products at one place to make up your mind," said a housewife Kalpana, who had come to get exposure to home appliances and to also know if the companies are giving gifts.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi lighted a leamp at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall as cultural shows were held at several places including the Patna Museum and Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir.

The function was also attended by other state ministers including the Art and Cultural minister Janardan Singh Sigriwal and Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav.

A Buddhist rally was taken out in Kadam Kuan where devotees congregated at the Buddha statue and offered their prayers to the messiah of world peace and unity.

"It has been brought to my attention that some Bhojpuri film have vulgar songs and double entendre in them. This is not a good sign and the filmmakers must not forget their responsibilities towards the society," the Chief Minister said.

"Good films can be made without showing women as sex symbols," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Kumar Modi, during his address, lamented the lack of good and adequate movie theaters in Bihar.

"The state government will soon announce its entertainment policy that would allow attractive concessions to the existing cinema hall owners for renovations and invite investment for setting up new multiplexes in the state," Modi said.

Renowned filmmaker Prakash Jha, during his speech, said Bihar film industry needed a shot in the arm and appealed to the industrialists to invest in the state that had no dearth of talent.

Others to speak on the occasion included state Information and Public Relations minister Arjun Rai, president of the Cine Society R. N. Das, and Information and Public Relations director Sunil Kumar Sinha.

The first Patna film festival, which kicked off last year, made a humble beginning with initial teething problems due to lack of experience.

"The college deserves much credit for what it has done for girls in Bihar since 1940. By continuing to introduce new courses in timely fashion, the college has kept up with the changing times and that is what makes this college different from any other college." Justice Khan, who attended Patna Women's College between 1970 and 74, said.

PU Vice Chancellor also emphasized the need to build character if the students wanted to go far in their lives.

Earlier, the students enthralled the audience with their play, folk songs from Bihar, Maharashtra, Punjab and other states.

Minakshi, Nishi Sinha, Antara Chowdhary, Khushbu Kumari, and Richa were given scholarships as special achievement awards. Principal Dr. Doris DeSouza read the college report through a PowerPoint presentation.

If the plans materialise, this fashion show to promote khadi through politicians would be held on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Martyr's Day.

Though many politicians rom Bihar, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, are known for their love for khadi, their walking the ramp, according to the organisers, will generate a lot more excitement.

"We wanted to promote khadi garments and we felt that politicians of the state can come to our help. We have already contacted some MLAs and will be contacting many others, so that the show becomes a grand success," said Ranjan Kumar of Renuka Art.

While 19 of the award recipients were present at the occasion, 23 who could not make it to the Tuesday event, would be individually handed over their awards by the Academy secretary Vibha Sinha.

The amorous professor, idolized by many youths of Bihar for his daring feat of defying all accepted social norms of the Bihari society, was mobbed by young boys and girls who put garlands on him and carried him on shoulders chanting pro-Matuknath slogans.

Chowdhary had arrived at the book fair to participate in a lecture on 'mantra sadhana' but instead, ended up giving a sermon on cupid and the effect of his love-laced arrow.

Interestingly, there was no sign of Julie, the professor's young heartthrob for whom he had abandoned his wife of several decades. When asked the whereabouts of Julie, Matuknath evaded the question saying the youths should always follow their hearts and not be discouraged by the pressure from the society.

The situation got so chaotic that the organizers of the fair had to ask him to leave. He was then escorted out of Gandhi Maidan and only then normalcy was restored at the fair.