Films chosen for New York's South Asian fest

Fourth edition of the festival runs Oct. 22-28

By Nyay Bhushan

Sept 27, 2008, 11:05 AM ET

NEW DELHI -- New York's South Asian International Film Festival will open with "Firaaq" by Indian actress-director Nandita Das and close with Pakistani director Mehreen Jabbar's "Ramchand Pakistani."

"Firaaq" (Separation) tells the story of the Hindu-Muslim riots in western India’s Gujarat state in 2002 and stars actors Naseeruddin Shah and Paresh Rawal and actress Tisca Chopra.

"Firaaq" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at Telluride.

"Ramchand Pakistani" stars Nandita Das as a low caste Hindu in Pakistan whose young son and husband are captured by Indian security agencies near the border.

Mumbai-based Percept Pictures will release "Ramchand" in India on Oct. 2. Percept also produced "Firaaq."

SAIFF, in its fourth year, is an annual not-for-profit event to support emerging and established filmmakers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. A lineup of other films will be announced later.

The festival runs Oct. 22-28.

Films chosen for New York's South Asian fest

Fourth edition of the festival runs Oct. 22-28

By Nyay Bhushan

Sept 27, 2008, 11:05 AM ET