Filmi 21! Virtual Edition
Filmi Toronto’s South Asian Film Festival Celebrating 21 Years!
December 27th, 2020
21st Filmi: Toronto’s South Asian film festival
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Category: Feature-films
0 Feature Film: Life is Beautiful!
CANADIAN FEATURE FILM SERIES
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!
Directed and Written by: Manoj Amarnani
September 27th,2014 – 3:30PM
History on the film:
Life is Beautiful! is a Hindi Romantic Comedy entirely shot in Toronto, with the entire cast and crew being Canadian.
It released worldwide on 22nd August and is still playing in theatres.
The film is written, produced and directed by Manoj Amarnani, who previously worked in Karan Johar’s “My Name is Khan”.
The post-production was conducted in India, featuring the finest technicians of the country like Sanjay Sankla (Best Editor), Eric Pillai (Best Sound) and the most Popular singers of Indian cinema. (Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan)
2 short films will screen prior to film: Its about time, Hechki
Synopsis:
Raj works in Toronto and lives with his friend Prem who hates him for invading his tiny apartment. After Raj’s application for Canadian residency is rejected, he plots the perfect plan to attain the Citizenship within a year, he marries a stranger, Pia. And as much as she hates it, she is forced to move in with him, as his wife. They live together, they fight, they laugh and soon a strange connection develops between them manifesting into a newfound friendship. The plan seems to be working fine, but the real complications begin on a stormy day when destiny brings Linda in front of Raj, a woman who comes into his life and changes it forever.
A story of love that redefines the rules of relationships beyond social barriers and takes these four characters on a journey filled with love, loss and lots of laughter.
Cast:
Manoj Amarnani, Nancy Brunetta, Anokhi Dalvi, Parth Naik & Raj Zutshi
Music: John Hunt, Lyrics: Vimal Kashyap
Cinematography: Ryan Ellis, Sync Sound: Mike Grand
Writer, Producer, Director, Choreographer, Background Music, Aerial Photography, Art, Styling and Costumes: Manoj Amarnani
The teaser of the film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_elBj0xLyk&list=UUgG4nOf3Id7WesUOksQEBMg
Here is the First Song Promo featuring Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FsbnfTlRyM
The Second song Promo features Rahat Fateh Ali Khan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZtm4cX459U
The Third Song Promo features Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8wIyPmnAwk
The fourth song is a club song featuring Farhad and Richa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOt7jbmN3TE
Few Reviews:
Manoj Amarnani manages to make a film that is…memorable.
Execution … Yash Chopra-Karan Johar brand of cinema is evident.
The songs are melodious. The film comedy works.
You won’t mind watching this one.
– Times of India
Manoj Amarnani has done a good job. There is something in the film that demands our attention.
The songs add to the strengths of the film and have also been picturised well.
There are few scenes that are really touching and the fine detailing in the film is impressive!
– Trending Now
The film touches your heart. The best parts of this romantic comedy are the comedy bits, a quality which makes the film interesting and lovable. Manoj Amarnani has successfully envisioned a film which is definitely praise worthy! Through good moments, melodious numbers, likeable leads, heart and humour, he’s got an ace in Life is Beautiful. This love story is definitely worth enjoying!
-Showtym
Public Review on First Day First Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07SbBhfpEJw
Facebook Link:
https://www.facebook.com/lifeisbeautifulhindi
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Short Film: Calcutta Taxi
Saturday, September 28th, 2013 @ 6:30
“CALCUTTA TAXI”
Directed and Written by Vikram Dasgupta
Length: 20 Minutes
Country: Canada/India
Year: 2013
Cast: Anand Rajaram, Vipin Sharma, Sunnie D’souza
Calcutta Taxi is set in the grimy backdrop of a city going
through a political crisis, unraveling the story of three
lives that coincide and affect each other. Each one having
lost and found some things in this chance encounter of
life.
AWARDS
Aspen Winner/Best Drama “Oscar Qualifier”
Winner Rhode Island International Film Festival
Official Selection Clermont Ferrand
Winner Audience Choice Award River to River Florence
Winner Best Short/Runner Up Anchorage Internation Film Festival
Offical Selection Austin Film Festival
Synopsis:
A young Art College student Aditya Chaterji finds his
backpack and belongings stolen on the day of a political
strike called by the infamous political party of Calcutta.
Meanwhile Bakul Bihari faces the opportunity of a lifetime
to win big for his glorious though covetous efforts to help
a poor boy in distress.
Cab driver Rasul Ahmed discovers a bomb in his backseat at
a congested traffic signal in an extremely unpredictable
and sensitive slum area of Calcutta.
Set in the grimy backdrop of a city going through a
political crisis, Calcutta Taxi unravels the story of three
lives that coincide and affect each other. Each one having
lost and found some things in this chance encounter of
life.
Director’s Biography: Vikram Dasgupta was born in New Delhi, India in 1977 into a
family of artists and musicians. After finishing his high school in New Delhi, he got
accepted into one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges of it’s kind-The
Government College of Arts, Calcutta (est.1864). He graduated from his five year Fine
Arts Degree with honors scholarship and was awarded the Gold Medal for outstanding
achievement in the field of art and design. While still in Art School he made a short
docudrama ‘inSANITY’ about a homeless artist on the streets of Calcutta. Submitting this
short film as a portfolio enabled him to get accepted into The Advanced Film and
Television program at Sheridan College, Canada in 2001. He has been living in Canada
ever since and has been working in Film and TV at various creative capacities, including
having worked for Indian musical genius AR Rahman of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame on
multiple occasions
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Feature Film: Simple Superstar
TORONTO PREMIERE
Simple Superstar
Written and Stars Wilbur Sargunaraj
Length: 92 Minutes
Country: Canada/India
Year: 2013
Synopsis:
“A champion for the common person” Wilbur Sargunaraj, the simple man known for his Eastern Latrine educational video and popular Love Marriage Music Video, has been called “India’s First YouTube Star” by The Times of India. He is now coming to the big screen with a semi-biographical story of Wilbur Sargunaraj in the musical “Simple Superstar” – a comical, philosophical look at the man who has encouraged people to climb down the ladder and celebrate the common!
Made entirely by the support of Wilbur Sargunaraj’s fan base and the wilbur world wide community, this movie was created using the help of social media. Cast and crew were hand picked by Wilbur Sargunaraj from the fan base on Facebook and Twitter. The Film will be released in various cities around the world through the 2013 film festival circuit. We are looking for you to help us make the common extraordinary! Spread the word!
21st Filmi: Toronto's South Asian Film Festival 2021 