New York: Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna has been named brand ambassador of a leading cultural organisation which will organise the annual New York Indian Film Festival next month that showcases the celebrity chef's film 'The Last Color' and Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer 'Photograph'.
Khanna, 47, was named as brand ambassador of Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) during a press conference at the Consulate General of India here.
The IAAC will present the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), North America's longest-running and most prestigious Indian film festival from May 7 to 12. Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has accepted to join the IAAC board.
The festival, supported by the Indian Consulate, will open with Rohena Gera directed 'Sir', starring Tillotama Shome, which was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
The festival's centerpiece is 'Photograph', directed by Ritesh Batra and starring Sanya Malhotra.
Khanna's 'The Last Color' is the closing night film of the festival and has won rave reviews at various international film festivals for its lead actress Neena Gupta, who plays a widow living a life of abstinence and isolation in the ancient Indian city of Banaras.
Khanna said it was a matter of immense pride for him to be named as the brand ambassador of IAAC and showcase his movie at the film festival based in his "adopted home" of New York City.
"The Last Color is the story of moving on, leaving traditions behind which have been followed for centuries. It's very close to my heart," he told PTI, adding that he has seen women who have been widowed and forced to live in total isolation.
Khanna said he felt it was time for a change as he saw the widows in Varanasi.
"When women get empowered, they can make the shift not just in societies but in our lives," he said, adding that he is very fortunate to have worked with Gupta.
Khanna was exuberant for getting the platform of NYIFF to showcase his film.
"Imagine doing the movie and not having a place to showcase your art. I am glad I could produce such organic art without any selfish motive," he said.
Khanna said his fil had gone to more than 20 film festivals around the world but the first confirmation for his movie came from NYIFF.
"The story is a piece of my heart, it may be technically weak, financially bankrupt but it is emotionally overwhelming," he said, adding that India's regional stories are "more powerful" and tell about the amazing resilience of its people.
The festival will showcase 30 feature-length films, including three documentaries, as well as bring to the New York audience 30 shorts, 19 regional films, including Bengali, Assamese, Marathi, Tamil, Malyalam cinema, Festival Director Aseem Chhabra said.
"There will be a strong representation of regional cinema from India, including a Ladakhi-Kashmiri children's film," Chhabra said.
Consul General of India in New York Sandeep Chakravorty said the strong regional content of the film festival was very important.
"This is what India is all about. Unfortunately, the image abroad is Bollywood all the time but Indian cinema is more than Bollywood. It is regional films, documentary films, film by very sensitive and intelligent people," Chakravorty said.
He stressed that India lived in its regions and is an amalgamation of cultures.
"We will be mistaken if we think Indian cinema is only Bollywood, it's not. Some of the finest work in Indian cinema is happening outside of Bollywood, it's important to bring that forward," Chakravorty said.
IAAC Vice Chairman Rakesh Kaul said the arts organisation wanted the festival to bring diversity of India to the New York audience, who will get to see the magnificence of India through the festival's line-up.
Kaul said they have ensured that the content of the films selected for the festival is "bold stories that courageous directors stake themselves on".
"You will see how bold these stories are, what courage the directors display because these stories will move you in a manner like nothing that you have experienced in the multiplexes you go to see Bollywood or Hollywood fare," Kaul said.
Through the festival, the audience will see that the profound strength of India is its imagination, he said.
The film festival, now in its 19th year, has been a popular annual fixture on the New York arts calendar, thanks to the pioneering work done by Aroon Shivdasani, who was the Executive and Artistic Director of Indo-American Arts Council and retired last year after leading the organisation for two decades.
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Dubai, Feb 21 (PTI): Legendary Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi firmly believes India is clearly the stronger side given that it has more match-winners compared to it's arch-rivals, and the best way to negate that advantage in the upcoming Champions Trophy marquee clash would be to put in a collective effort.
Pakistan are in a must-win situation when it takes on India here on Sunday after suffering a massive 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi. India, on the other hand, will come into the high-voltage contest on the back of a sure-footed performance against Bangladesh here on Thursday.
"If we talk about match-winners, I'd say that India has more match-winners compared to Pakistan. A match-winner is someone who knows how to win the game single-handedly. Right now, we don't have such players in Pakistan," former Pakistan skipper Afridi said on JioHotstar's 'Greatest Rivalry Returns' episode.
He said that India's middle and lower-order had played vital roles in the team's wins, while the same could not be said about Pakistan.
"India's strength lies in its middle and lower order, which has been winning them matches. For a long time, we have been giving opportunities to players, but no one has stepped up consistently.
"Some have performed in a few games, but we don't have players who have sustained their performance for a year, two years, or across 50-60 matches. That's where we are a little weaker compared to India, which is very strong in this area." Afridi said every player in Pakistan side will have to give his best in order to overcome the arch-rivals.
"The key to winning against India is collective performance -- whether it's the batsmen, bowlers, or spinners -- everyone's contribution is crucial." However, India's World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh felt Pakistan will have an edge as they have played a lot of their cricket in Dubai.
Pakistan were forced to play their home games in the UAE following the militant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009.
"I actually think Pakistan has an advantage because they have a base in Dubai. They have played a lot of cricket there and understand the conditions well. On slower wickets, Indian and Pakistani players are among the best, who have always played spin well," said Yuvraj.
While agreeing with Afridi that India had more match-winners, Yuvraj added that adapting to the situation and not letting pressure overwhelm the cricketers would play a bigger role in the clash.
"You talk about match-winners - yes, I agree with Shahid Afridi that we have more match-winners. But I believe that even if Pakistan has fewer match-winners, one player can still take the game away.
"The India-Pakistan clash is not about match-winners alone; it's about playing in the moment, adapting to the situation, and not letting expectations overwhelm you. The team that does this better will win the game for their country," said Yuvraj.
He also said that skipper Rohit Sharma's form wasn't a big concern as he is a proven match-winner along with Virat Kohli.
"Rohit Sharma, whether in form or out of form, it doesn't matter to me. I would always back my match-winners. In ODI cricket, especially in white-ball formats, he has been India's biggest match-winner as a batsman, alongside Virat Kohli.
"If Rohit is struggling but still gets runs, that's dangerous for the opposition. If he's in form, he will score a century in 60 balls. That's his quality - once he gets going, he's not just hitting fours; he's clearing the ropes with sixes.
"He is also one of the best players of the short ball. Even if someone bowls at 145-150 kmph, Rohit has the ability to hook it effortlessly. His strike rate is always between 120-140, and on his day, he can single-handedly win you the game," added Yuvraj.