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NRI director Mira Nair's short
film on September 11, based on the real life incident involving
an American Muslim boy, will be among the opening
fare at the 8th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK),
starting here later this week.
Nair's film was part of a series of 11 short films by leading
directors from different countries on the terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Center and other US landmarks on September
11, 2001. The collection of 11 films, each of the duration
of 11 minutes, nine seconds and one frame (11'9"01),
was a talking point at the Toronto and Venice film festivals
last year.
Mira Nair's vignette dramatises the real life story of
Salman Hamdani, a Muslim American medical student who went
missing in New York City after the attack and later became
a terrorist suspect. The all-American upbringing of the
boy came to naught as his family saw neighbours and friends
turn against them. Finally, it turned out that Salman had
died helping people out of the World Trade Center tower
that day. The members of the youth's family took part in
the film.
Nair was later quoted as saying that she wanted to make
a film about the reality of life for South Asians in New
York City after September 11. ''Life has changed irrevocably,
and I think forever. From New York to Jenin to Gujarat,
the Islamophobia that has taken over the world disturbs
me immensely. As a filmmaker, I thought it was about time
we spoke up," the director of such popularly acclaimed
films as 'Salaam Bombay' and 'Monsoon Wedding', told an
ethnic Indian newspaper in the US.
While Mira Nair's short feature will share the honours
with the Turkish feature film ''Encounters'' as the opening
movies of the week-long IFFK, starting on December 12, the
NRI director herself would not be present at the festival,
sources at the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the organisers
of the festival, told UNI.
- Monsoon Wedding
- Kama Sutra
- Mississippi Masala
- Salaam Bombay
- The Perez Family
The Impressionist 2005
Homebody/Kabul 2004
Vanity Fair 2004
Still, The Children Are Here 2003Documentary, 85 minutes,
35 mm
11.09.01 2002Fiction, 11 minutes, 9 seconds, one frame,
35mm
Hysterical Blindness 2002Fiction, 97 minutes, 35mm
Monsoon Wedding 2002Fiction, 113 minutes, 35mm
The Laughing Club of India 2000Documentary, 36 minutes,
16 mm
My Own Country 1998Fiction, 100 minutes, 35mm
Kama Sutra : A Tale of Love 1996Fiction, 112 minutes,
35mm
The Perez Family 1995Fiction, 106 minutes, 35mm
The Day the Mercedes Became a Hat 1993Fiction, 10
minutes, 35mm
Mississippi Masala 1991Fiction, 113 minutes, 35mm
Salaam Bombay! 1988Fiction, 113 minutes, 35mm
Children of Desired Sex 1986Documentary, 30 minutes,
16 mm
India Cabaret 1985Documentary, 58 minutes, 16 mm
So Far From India 1983Documentary, 52 minutes, 16
mm
Jama Masjid Street Journal 1979Documentary, 18 minutes,
16 mm
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Mira Nair
English and Hindi director born in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa; daughter
of a civil servant. Educated at the Irish Catholic School in Simla
and at the University of New Delhi. Active as an actress in repertory
theatre in India. Went to Harvard (1976) where she graduated in
sociology (1979). Started making films in the USA for R. Leacock
and D.A. Pennebaker. She has produced her own films and achieved
international success with India Cabaret and Salaam Bombay. She
is now based in the US.
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