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The Asian Film Centre in association with the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka and the Directorate of Film Festivals in India present a retrospective festival of films directed by Girish Kasaravalli - an eminent film maker from Karnataka. The festival is on from 26th November to December 1st at the BMICH cinema, Colombo.

A leading filmmakers of India, Girish Kasaravalli has nine (09) features films and four short films to his credit.

Born and brought up in Kasaravalli a village in the hill areas of karnataka state, he graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune as the best student of the year 1975. Considered as one of the key figures of the New Wave filmmakers of Kannada Cinema Girish Kasaravalli's first feature film was 'Ghatasharaddha' (The Ritual) which he made in 1977 and won the President's Golden Lotus Award.

The film festival is open to the general public from 27th November on the first come first served basis. Screenings start at 6 p.m.

The festival schedule

Nov. 27 - Kraurya (The Cruelty / 1995 / colour / 125 mins.

This film won the best Kannada language film award for its poignant portrayal of a middle-class old woman's agony and her complex relationship with the individuals of three generations. The film is a depiction of cruelty to the aged and the weak. Though there's no physical violence the viewer can see the violence throughout the film.

Nov. 28 - Thabarna Kathe (Thabarna's Tale / 1987 / colour / 140 mins.

Based on a short story by Purachandra Tejeswi, the film is built on the haunting character of an ordinary municipal worker. Still sunning himself in the warmth of the long past the British Raj, he becomes first a funny character and then a tragic in the eyes of those around him. He journeys fumbling through the bureaucratic jungle trying to get his provident fund in order to save the life of his diabetic wife, who eventually dies. The experience shatters him. In the end when he is handed the money due to him, he refuses it. A searing indictment of a powerful system, which is cruel and unmindful of individual needs. Nov. 29 Thai Saheb (1998/Colour 150 mins). This film captures realities of social and political changes from a woman's perspective. Thai Saheb has won four National Awards and six state awards for the year 1998, including the President's Golden Lotus Award. Nov 30. (The Ritual 1977/Black & White/144 mins).

A young widow was seduced and made pregnant by the village schovi master. The story is depicted as seen through the eyes of a small boy studying under the young widow's father for priesthood. The boy looks upon the girl as a surrogate mother and what the young boy undergoes in seeing the plight of the woman is moving but not least sentimental when found out of the pregnancy, the girl is ex communicated with a shaven head and funeral rites performed for her. Dec 01 - Mane (The House/1989/Colour/125 mins).

A bilingual film which won the President's Silver Meal for best Kannada feature film. A young couple have come to the city to escape the prying inquisitiveness of the village joint family life. While the husband fails to adjust to his surroundings the wife's horizons are broadened and she builds new relationships.

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