Festival of films on freedom struggle begins tomorrow

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) The four-day festival of films on freedom movement 'Swatantrata Filmotsav' gets underway tomorrow at Siri Fort Auditorium here.

Organised by Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the festival commemorates 150th year of the first war of independence.

It will be inaugurated by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.

The aim of the festival was to present to the younger generation through films the main events and figures of the crucial stages of the historic struggle, chief producer of the Films Division Kuldeep Sinha said.

The inaugural film 1857--the Beginning' is about the very first revolt against the British, which was termed by them as Mutiny. It will be screened witn the magnum opus of yesteryears 'Jhansi Ki Rani--A Brave Female Warrior' by Sohrab Modi.

The film '1857-The Beginning' has been directed by Bhanumurthy Alur.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and freedom fighter Shanti Bhushan will be guests of honour.

A total of 55 films, including 15 feature films and 40 documentaries, would be screened during the four-day event.

The films selected for screening include classics like 'Anand Math' (directed by Hemen Gupta), 'Jhansi Ki Rani' (directed by Sohrab Modi), 'Making of Mahatma' and 'Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose' A Forgotten Hero' (both directed by Shyam Benegal), 'Train to Pakistan' (directed by Pamela Rooks) and 'Sardar' (directed by Ketan Mehta). The festival also has a film on unknown freedom fighters.

The entry to the festival is free and available on 'first come first serve basis.

UNI