An apple from paradise (Afghanistan)
Director: Hamayoun Morowat
Duration: 86 min
Synopsis:
Pious old man goes to Kabul, to visit his youngest son, who lost his two sons during the holy war with the Soviets. He admited his son to the theological school to 'be taught the Koran and returned to the village as Mullah', but hypocritical mullah sent him to 'Paradise' as a suicide bomber. Father cannot cope with this betrayal by trusted mullah. His world is falls apart.
It’s a portrait of wrong interpretation of religion at the crossroads, but also the image of generational conflict in glacial poignantly filmed in disoriented and muddy Kabul.
This film is inspired by true events.
Neighbor (Afghanistan)
Director: Zubair Fanghand
Duration: 100 min
Synopsis:
Neighbor captures the tragedy of the Afghan refugee community in Iran. Set in the Safaid Sang (White Stone) near Iranian-Afghan border. it tells the stories of ordinary Afghans trapped by circumstances in an alien land, and the daily humiliations and trials they face at the hands of brutal and corrupt officials and guards. Forced into the camp despite the pleas of a sick wife and daughters, Omer is forced to live in the harsh conditions of the desert and face the constant stereotypes against Afghans. Along with the other inmates, he struggle to preserve a sense of his own dignity and culture amidst the sneer of 'superior' Iranian officers. Finally, an incident brings him and the entire camp to the edge, and they respond with the proud spirit of a people who have never been subdued. Based on a true incident, Neighbor is the first major attempt by Afghan cinema towards telling the stories of its refugee community.
Lalla Hindu (Afghanistan)
Director: Mohammad Hasan
Duration: 60 min
Synopsis:
Lalla Hindu is a documentary film on Sikhs and Hindu ethnic minority in Afghanistan which is based on the life and problems of the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan. This documentary film aims to introduce a part of Afghan society to the people. This movie gives full information about Hinduism culture.
Sikhs and Hindus have been living for many years in Afghanistan. But still they suffer from many problems.
This is the first time that an Afghan company produced a documentary film on Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who have been staying since many years in Afghanistan.
I want horse not a wife (Afghanistan)
Director: Houmayon Paiz.
Duration: 32 min
Synopsis:
American film crew selects 10 years old “Zal” and extras from the people, living as refugee, to play in the movie.
After the film shooting, when Zal returns to tent , his father gives him surprising news that he has got him a young girl to marry and a horse for his brother with a 100 dollar deal from a meager immigration man. But ten year old Zal loves to have horse and does not want a wife. For this reason, he is being reproved….
Rooshanek (Afghanistan)
Director: Homayoun Payiz.
Duration: 31 min
Synopsis:
Rooshanek, a young afghan girl who is a teacher by profession wants to open a girls school in her village. Apart from her mother there was no support with her as she had to face a lot of obstacles from both the society and her family. The villagers complained about the girl to a local Maulavi and also started saying bad about her character.
A panchayat was called in the village by the Maulvi to discuss this matter as he thought she was doing this for the development of the village and he supported her. And at the last her dream came true.
Bristi Bheja Akash (Tears of Love) (Bangladesh)
Director: Sohanur Rahman
Duration: 132 min
Synopsis:
A love story of Akash and Brishti, who elope against the wishes of family and get married. The story takes a dramatic turn when Akash is diagnosed with Brain tumour.
Chandragrohan (Bangladesh)
Director: Murad Parvez
Duration: 118 min
Synopsis:
A deaf homeless woman dies after giving birth to a girl- Falani. In her teens she falls in love with Kashu, a young bus driver. The drama of resistance due to stubborn attitude of Kashu’s father (Abul) against their marriage leads to unfolding of the secret of infidelity of Abul.
Gangajatra (Journey) (Bangladesh)
Director: Syed Ohiduzzawan Diamond
Duration: 112 min
Synopsis:
The story of the film deals with Rupa, a sex worker who gives birth to a baby girl and now she becomes desperate to get out from the brothel with her dear daughter. It showcases that people from all strata of life irrespective of their religions visits brothel and touch a sex worker. But when a sex worker dies, she becomes untouchable.
Noy Nombor Bipod Shonket (Bangladesh)
Director: Humayun Ahmed
Duration: 116 min
Synopsis:
Mr. Sobhan is at his seventy now. He lives in his villa alone. Mr. Sobhan has two daughters and one son. Both the girls are married, who lives in Dhaka city with their husbands. His son is a student of Physics’ department of Dhaka University. He is exceptionally brilliant.
Mr. Sobhan’s son and two daughters never come to visit him. They were scared of their father’s bad anger and his whimsical nature. So, he made a plan to bring his children back to him. Intentionally He starts to spread his dead news to his children. His son and two daughters with their whole family came on running. Funny events start to occur from this point.In the mean time a girl who is a dancer called Ranjana come at the villa. Nobody knows who she is & why she came and what was her intention. Mystery starts to surge up arround her.
Priotomeshu (Love and Repulsion) (Bangladesh)
Director: Morshedul Islam
Duration: 117min
Synopsis:
A story of two friends intertwined in a series of mishaps. A struggle of self - pursuit and an episode on two women’s recovery from mortification.
The Sound of Silence (Bangladesh)
Director: Molfidul Hoque
Duration: 35 min
Synopsis:
The unique personality and lone struggle of Debdas unfolds the film raising question about the borderline between sanity and insanity. The film underlines the importance to know about many people's contribution in the liberation struggle and how a lone person can make such powerful protest.
49th Day (Bhutan)
Director: Namgey Retty.
Duration: 116 min
Synopsis:
A woman learns that her daughter, who lives in the capital city with her ex-husband and his new wife is missing, she rushes off to Thimphu. On the way she meets with a terrible accident and dies. Her spirit is able to find her injured daughter, and looking for a way out to let the living know what has happened. Does she is succeed?, .
“CHORTEN KORA” the circumambulation (Bhutan)
Director: Gyem Dorji
Duration: 108 min
Synopsis:
“Chorten Kora” is a tragic love story that acquaints us with the life of a young princess played by Kinlay Peday from then a mythical place Tawang, a neighboring state of India.
The story dwells upon the conflict between her human desires, her love and happiness, and the reality of a cold untimely death.
“Kushu – Thara (Bhutan)
Director: Karma Deki
Duration: 100 min
Synopsis:
Kushuthara is a film about an unrequited love. It is a story about lovers whose fate is interwoven like the exquisite design of Kushuthara, which embodies the substance of the film. Kushuthara, epitomizes the unflagging sprit and the dream of every women.
Khudakhushi (India-Hindi)
Director: Rakesh Mehta
Duration: 70 min
Synopsis:
Young Imran in search of a job meets Wali Sheikh and gets impressed by his lifestyle. Wali Sheikh living under a trauma of imparity and injustice has his own reason to make free space for muslims in India. Wali Sheikh gets Imran brainwashed which makes the whole family of Imran worried for him
Wali Sheikh and his mentor Bhaijaan are working on a longtime plan to blast the CST in Mumbai and Wali Sheikh convinces Imran to accompany hiam to place a bomb. Imran agrees to it. Life of Imraan changes………..
Basundhra (India-Assamese)
Director: Hiren Bora
Duration: 117min
Synopsis:
The inhabitants of the forest terrain of Sundarpur experienced a constant intensifying conflict between man and elephant because of ecological disaster. In a frenzy of wild elephants attack the villagers frequently and endanger human lives.
This story revolves around an N.G.O called Basundhara who fights against many difficulties for resolving the crisis in Sundarpur.
Can Basundhara achieve her goal?
Dalamarmarangal (Whispers of Petals) (India- Malayalam)
Director: Vijaykrishnan
Duration: 105 min
Synopsis:
Aswathy, a textile shop employee, is staying with her bedridden sick mother. Kartika is a girl who is bestowed upon lots of love and affection by her parents. The third girl Rohini, lives in luxury and have tremendously rich parents.
This is a story on how three different girls from three different social and economic backdrops try to cope up with their life against all odds. At the end of the movie one can discover that love is the one and only antidote to violence.
The Bird Catcher (India- Malayalam)
Director: Mr Majeed Gulistan
Duration: 83 min
Synopsis:
A forest officer’s child happens to get lost in the forest by a trap laid by poachers. Caught and taken away by the poachers, the boy is spotted by a tribal boy who lives in the forest and who incidentally is his classmate too. ‘The Bird Catcher’ is the nickname given by his classmates as he is believed to catch & take away the birds for eating, when he is actually saving the birds.
The tribal boy, who is in the forest searching for some very rare herbal medicinal plants for his sick mother, becomes the savior & guide to the forest officer’s son.
The film makes children aware of the realities like global warming, climate change, de-forestation and extinction of exotic species and rare herbs.
Foreign (India-Hindi)
Director: Rahul Nath
Duration: 25min
Synopsis
Foreign tells the story of Radhika a young and naïve girl from India who is excited about her forthcoming married life in the USA. When she gets there all is not well. A series of mistreatments by her husband and her mother in law lead her to the family doctor, who happens to be a friend of her husbands. All changes when the doctor makes the shocking revelation that Radhika is HIV positive, and he is adamant that Radhika has done something prior to marriage. Radhika comes to know that the doctor and her husband have been previous sexual partners.
She proves their sexual relation in front of her mother in law. Before anyone can react, her husband. mother in law and the doctor start to collaspe one by one and it is evident that she has posioned them. As an icing on the cake, she blows the house up and walks away.
Beyond Tradition (India)
Director: Rajesh S Jala & Sharmistha Mukherjee
Duration: 60 min
Synopsis:
India has an immensely rich heritage of classical dance. Timeless in its beauty and appeal Indian classical dance has already won global acclaim. The biggest challenge for many Indian dancers today is how to delve deeper into that reservoir for inspiration, yet to transcend and go beyond it to create a new dance aesthetics which is more reflective of the concerns and sensibilities of contemporary India. Beyond Tradition explores that existing and inspirational journey.
Children of Pyre (India)
Director: Rajesh H jala
Duration: 74 min
Synopsis:
“Children of the Pyre” is a compelling real life, self – narrative of seven extraordinary children who make their living out of the dead at Manikarnika Ghat in Banaras, the busiest cremation ground in India. They collect, snatch or steal used coffin shrouds and sell them for petty amounts in order to ensure their own and their family’s survival.
Ashayein (India-Hindi)
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Duration: 173 min
Synopsis:
A compulsive gambler whose life changes completely after fate plays a cruel joke on him.
Turgot (India-Assamese)
Director: Dr Bupendra Kaman
Duration: 78 min
Synopsis:
The people of Majuli, the biggest river island in the world, of Assam are busy doing their day to day work. A devastating flood broke out at Majuli sweeping away all their belongings. Pakhila & Tarun are also victim of this nature’s fury. Experience their tragic journey…
Jinni (Maldives)
Director: Abdul Faththaah
Duration: 150 min
Synopsis:
While pursuing higher studies in another island away from home, JAVID falls in love with his attractive neighbor, THAHOO. She is shy but very playful that it’s in her nature to play pranks on others, especially terrifying them.
JAVID thinks he too has fallen prey to a prank of hers when he starts witnessing a change in her personality. She is sensual at night but unable to recall any events of the night next day. This opens up a Pandora box as lives of both JAVID and THAHOO are forever changed. Their love is put to the ultimate test.
Unable to deal with THAHOO’s dual personality, JAVID is forced to question his own sanity as it becomes more and more difficult for him to determine right from wrong or vice versa. As JAVID draws himself closer to the edge of insanity, truth starts to uncover. And what lies beneath the closet is a skeleton more sinister than anyone has ever imagined, except for one! Is JAVID going to be saved before it’s too late?
Quest For A Better Life (Maldives)
Director: Muaviath Anwar
Duration: 28 min
Synopsis:
This documentary explores the yellow fin tuna fishery in the Maldives, the methods adopted in the fishery, the life of the fishermen and the impacts of this type of fishery.
Kaagbeni (Nepal)
Director: Bhushan Dahal
Duration: 130 min
Synopsis:
Upon the returning to his village after a long spell in Malaysia, Krishna travels to a neighboring village with his childhood friend Ramesh. On their journey they encounter a hermit who returns Krishna's kindness with a strange gift — a monkey's paw that will grant his wish. Unaware of its ominous powers, Ramesh makes a wish. Thus begins the journey of betrayal and revenge.
Sanosansar (Nepal)
Director: Alok Nebang
Synopsis:
Ravi is an average guy who has just graduated from college. Like most average guys, he doesn't know what he wants in life. Reetu is a not so average girl knows what she doesn't want. Suraj is a confident fellow who knows exactly what he wants in life. Manoj Sizapati wants what every guy wants ;) ;)
Little do they know that they are living in a Sano Sansar where everyone knows everyone even if they think they do not know them...
Gurmukh Singh Ki Wasiyat (Gurmukh Singh's Will) (Pakistan)
Director: Sharjil Baloch
Duration:48 min
Synopsis:
Based on a short story by Saadat Hasan Manto, the film depicts the dilemma of a Muslim family in Amritsar durationing partition riots. While most Muslim families are migrating to Pakistan, Mian Sahab, a retired judge refuses to do so, despite pleas from his children. He has full faith in his friend Gurmukh Singh, a neighbourhood elder respected by all. But increasing violence begins to weaken Mian Sahab's resolve to stay until circumstances intervene.
Yeh Hindustan, Woh Pakistan (This is Hindustan, That is Pakistan) (Pakistan)
Director: Ehtesham
Duration: 47 min
Synopsis:
Drawing inspiration from a short story by Ramanand Sagar, the film takes us back to partition days. There are two villages on the opposite banks of a river that divides India from Pakistan, a Hindu village and a Muslim village. Imprisoned in pne of the houses on the Pakistani side is Lajwanti, a Hindu woman who has been abducted by the Muslims from the village across the river. She is one of the many Hindu women who have been abducted and are forced to stay in Muslim houses for the pleasure of the men. Amna, the wife of the abductor, however, begins to feel increasing sympathy for Lajwanti who is distraught and forlorn in her present situation and keeps gazing across the river hoping for a glimpse of her husband and little son on the other side. Unable to see Lajwanti's agony any longer, Amna decides to defy her husband by secretly escorting Lajwanti across the river to her home. What happens to them on this perilous journey and what awaits them on the other side?
Achhay mian (Pakistan)
Director: Saife Hasan
Duration: 45 min
Synopsis:
Achhay mian is the story of a blind young man. He belongs to a lower middle class family and lives with his mother. She fusses over him constantly and has led him to believe that he is very handsome. Achhay mian is by nature a romantic, interested in movies and qawwalis and quite proud of his good looks. He falls in love with another blind girl. Throughout their courtship, he keeps telling her how handsome he is. Despite many difficulties, they get married. Then, one day, his life is shattered when the truth of his ugliness is cruelly brought home to him.
Mukti(Pakistan)
Director: Ehtesham Uddin
Duration: 45 min
Synopsis:
On his death bed a Sikh father confesses to his son that maddened by love he had not only forcibly converted his mother from Islam to Sikhism but had also lied to her that her Muslim husband and daughter got killed in the riots. All this he had done to get her to agree to marry him. But this, the dying father said, had always weighed upon his conscience. He, therefore, asked the son to take his mother across to Pakistan to meet her Muslim husband and the daughter. This came as a blow for the son but in order to give Mukti (salvation) to his father’s soul he brings the mother to Pakistan and goes through strange emotional and cultural experiences.
Match Factor (Pakistan)
Director: Maheen Zia
Duration: 18 min
Synopsis:
Ahmed, a young football player from Iraq comes to Berlin to participate in a FIFA charity match. When he disappears from his hotel, a search for him is mounted as a possible case of defection. Brigitte, a young policewoman is on patrol duty when she comes across him.
Kala Pul (Pakistan)
Director: Saqib Masoof
Duration: 42 min
Synopsis:
All news out of Karachi is bad. Arsalan, a fugitive, returns to his native Karachi to investigate the violent death of his younger brother, blamed on religious fundamentalists. In the ensuing days he discovers that in a post 9/11 world the gritty megalopolis sits on the fault line of modernity and militancy. On his arrival in Karachi, Arsalan finds himself estranged from his family, which is divided in opinion between his anglicized father and his militant younger brother. Later Arsalan faces his old nemesis and visits his old flame at a beach party where he encounters the hip side of Karachi. As Arsalan arranges a meeting with the head of a banned religious party, he is
monitored by US based FBI agents who are trying to target money laundering operations that were set up in conjunction with Pakistan’s intelligence agencies durationing the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The plot
then lunges the cast into a geo-political thrill ride, while weaving an account of the protagonist chasing his brother’s killer through the gritty streets of Karachi.
South Asian Film Festival