Nandita Das' 'Firaaq', Priyan's 'Kanjivaram' at Toronto filmfest

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) A foreign film Oscar and an entry in the Cannes Film festival may have eluded filmmakers in India but Indian films and filmmakers continue to make waves at the Toronto film festival with Nandita Das debut directorial venture 'Firaaq' and Priyadarshan's 'Kanjivaram' selected for the 33rd edition of the prestigious film festival in Canada.

'Firaaq' and 'Kanjivaram', both of them produced by the Percept Pictures company, will be screened at the 33rd Toronto International Film Festival, which will be held from September 4-13.

'Firaaq', the directorial debut of eminent Indian actress Nandita Das which deals with the impact of violence on human psyche and relationships, has been selected in the 'Contemporary World Cinema Premiere' slot.

Featuring several accomplished actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Dipti Naval, Raghubir Yadav, Sanjay Suri and Tisca Chopra and some new talented actors like Shahana Goswami and Nowaz, 'Firaaq', an Urdu word that means both separation and quest, is an ensemble film (with five different stories) that takes place over a 24-hour period, a month after a horrific communal carnage (mirroring religious clashes that took place in Gujarat in early 2002).

The other film selected for TIFF 'Kanjivaram' has been directed by South Indian filmmaker Priyadarshan. 'Kanjivaram' is the story of Vengadam, a weaver of saris whose lowly status means he can never afford the fashions he creates. At the birth of his daughter he pledges to wrap her in the finest silk on the day of her wedding, dismaying his community who believe that, if such a promise is not fulfilled, a curse will follow. Desperate to keep his word, he steals a thread of silk ach day, weaving secretly each night. But when his access to the silk is jeopardized, Vengadam must find a way to keep from breaking his promise.

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