Channel 4 announces mega Bollywood season

Channel 4 has exclusively confirmed to BizAsia.co.uk the movies it will be telecasting as part of its annual Bollywood movie season, starting in September.

This year the broadcaster highlights the work of three of the greatest talents working within the industry, as well as offering a mix of the best of Bollywood, and rounding off the 20 film season with the UK TV premiere of ‘A Throw of Dice’, the epic Indian silent recently restored by the BFI.

The first artist featured is the actor Saif Ali Khan, who came to prominence in 2001. Four of his films will be screened, including ‘Omkara’, an adaptation of ‘Othello’, in which he plays the Iago figure.

Nagesh Kukunoor is regarded as one of India�۪s maverick directors ��� his first feature, ‘Hyderabad Blues’, was self-financed along with its sequel ‘Hyderabad Blues 2’. Among the four films Channel 4 is screening by the director is the acclaimed ‘Dor’. Channel 4 will be screening the equally acclaimed ‘Hyderabad Blues 2’ among the four titles by the director.

AR Rahman has been called the “Mozart from Madras” for the unique quality of his film scores and soundtracks, fusing influences as wide ranging as Western classical music and Carnatic music to achieve a unique style that has made him one of the world�۪s top 25 all-time selling recording artists.

The seven film Cinema India season includes ‘Page 3’, a controversial look at the Mumbai celebrity circus, ‘Taxi No.9211’, director Milan Luthria�۪s film based on ‘Changing Lanes’, and ‘Paheli’, starring Shah Rukh Khan, one of Bollywood�۪s top actors.

A Throw of Dice is German filmmaker Franz Osten�۪s 1930 restored silent epic, a story of good and evil kings with all the trapping of a De Mille epic including 10,000 extras and 1,000 elephants.

The Indian film season runs every Sunday and Thursday, beginning Sunday 2nd September with Saif Ali Khan in ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’.

The provisional running order is listed below but is subject to change ��� check Channel 4�۪s weekly schedule for details.

Saif Ali Khan season
Kal Ho Naa Ho
Parineeta
Omkara
Hum Tum

Bollywood Mix
Paheli
Khosla Ka Ghosla
Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi
Bluffmaster
Taxi No. 9211
Page 3
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

Nagesh Kukunoor season
Dor
Teen Deewarein
Iqbal
Hyderabad Blues 2

AR Rahman season
Rang De Basanti
Guru
Swades
The Rising: Mangal Pandey

Restored Classic
A Throw of Dice