Film Maker

Another young film maker is Anand Gandhi. One of his internationally reknown works is Continuum which he directed together with Khushboo Ranka. For seeing the whole (not so very) short film you have to go to youtube and proceed with Part II etc.

"Right here, right now"

Film Maker

One of my favourite young Indian film makers is called Vasant Nath. Here you can see some of his work:

(it seems Blogger doesn't like to embed vimeo. therefore, find here a first you tube link. however, I advice checking the vimeo links below!)

Shanu Taxi: 

(on youtube you have to proceed to the following parts on your on clicking through the list of offered videos to your right!)

http://vimeo.com/34008278

 

Sukrit's Sunday:

 

http://vimeo.com/34115553

Experimental Film

Experimenta

Unfortunately not based in Mumbai, but Experimenta is an interesting source of information on the experimental movie and video scene in India:

http://experimenta.in/about-2/

(photo source as well)

"Experimenta India is an artist run platform that encourages uncompromising, fresh, compelling and critically urgent experimentation with the moving image in India.

Founded by filmmaker Shai Heredia in 2003, this groundbreaking platform has over the years played a significant role in countering the hegemony of the mainstream Indian film industry. Through nurturing an alternative community that reflects upon, and examines the different traces of Indian artists’ film and video, both historical and contemporary, we engage in a series of projects that bring together Indian and international film artists with similar creative and socio-political concerns.  Besides curating EXPERIMENTA, the critically acclaimed bi-annual festival, we also showcase Indian experimental film and video at international film festivals and art venues like the Tate Modern (London), the Berlinale Film festival (Berlin), Images festival (Toronto), EXiS festival (Seoul) amongst others.

While bringing Indian moving image art into international prominence, we have also hosted International artists residencies in Mumbai and Bangalore, curated regular screenings and conducted film art workshops across India. Ultimately as an alternative community we have played a significant role in evolving independent, new and radical discourse for film as an art practice in India."

Galleries in Mumbai

Project 88

http://www.project88.in/

https://www.facebook.com/project88

"Project 88 was established in downtown Mumbai in 2006 by Sree Goswami. The 4000 square feet gallery is housed in a century old metal printing press. The gallery supports emerging and established artists in long-term relationships to facilitate understanding and awareness of their continually evolving practices in India and in international venues.

Project 88 works with a generation of emerging artists within India who are making innovative, experimental and ambitious works in all media and modes within a conceptual framework.

In a span of five years, the gallery has evolved along with these artists, adding important mid-career artists from the region and abroad, on the strength of it's committed programme. The gallery has participated in several fairs including Frieze, Arco, Hong Kong Art Fair, Art Dubai and India Art Summit. Many of its artists are in major international collections, biennales, and museum shows." (http://www.project88.in/)

Art Magazines

 

Art India  

A good way to start informing oneself:
http://artindiamag.com/quarter14_06_12/front_page.html

Platform Magazine

http://www.platform-mag.com/

Experimental Film  

Amrit Gangar and Cinema Prayoga 

Amrit Gangar
(source: ncpamumbai.com)

Amrit Gangar is a Mumbai-based author, curator, short filmmaker, and inventor of the term Cinema Prayoga.

http://experimenta.in/texts/interviews/amrit-gangar/

http://www.ncpamumbai.com/event/roopantar-%E2%80%93-adapting-theatre-cinema-0

 

Child On Chessboard; Vijay B Chandra
(source: experimenta.in)

Here you find articles on Cinema Prayoga:

The Hindu – Cinema of Prayoga

http://www.avikunthak.com/Prayoga%20Website/Home.html

...so he starts singing (2000) by Bani Abidi

...so he starts singing (2000) from bani abidi on Vimeo.

Indian Artist: Bani Abidi

I find this artist quite interesting...

Rustom Bharucha

Independent writer, director, and cultural critic based in Calcutta, India. An interlocutor in the
fields of intcrculturalism, sccularism, and cultural activism, he is the author of several books
including Tbeatre and the World (1993), The Qllestion of Faith (1993), In the Name of the Seclllar
(1998), The Politics of ClIltural Practice (2000), Rajasthan: An Oral History (2003), and Another
Asia: Rabindranatb Tagore and Okakllra Tenshin (2006). Combining theory and practice, he has
conducted numerous workshops with underprivileged communities in India and has conceptualized
public art projects, notably Tangencya in Durban, South Africa. He is also an advisor to the
Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development in the Netherlands. For more Information see also mystudy......

Performance: Beautiful Thing 1

»I don’t think one can fight big battles of culture, identity or politics through dance. I want to be economic and precise. To create a beautiful thing.« (Padmini Chettur)

Padmini Chettur born 1970 in Mumbai: At the core of Chettur's work is resistance. Her work unveils a taut vision that takes the contemporary dance of India, from what it is and how it should look, to radical dimensions.

Source: http://www.kampnagel.de/?page=detail&cluster=480578&id_language=2

Initiative: Dekha Undekha

Dekha Undekha is an initiative that fosters contact between local artists and slum dwellers in Mumbai. Their projects are not only about illustrating the problems of poor neighbourhoods, they actually make art for and with people from those neighbourhoods. Their latest project is called 'Ghar Pe' and is concerned with women's health concerns and consists of photographs, ceramics and installations.

I like the idea to use exhibitions to improve living conditions in slums, though I am not sure how effective this method is. 

http://dekhaundekha.wordpress.com/

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2012/WTVM054469.htm 

A dragon for downtown Shanghai

 

This unorthodox spiraling structure is an entry in the current Re-Thinking Shanghai 2012 competition, designed to be constructed in the city's center. While inspired by the ancient Chinese Dragon symbol, it's striking contemporariness isn't limited to sheer aesthetics. Aside from merging commercial and residential buildings, a park, waterways, roads and subway lines, "Sity", as the structure is named, could be able to generate power through solar panels and wind/water turbines, as well as collect rain water and function as a sort of natural air conditioner.

http://www.detail.de/daily/sity-glanzender-drache-fur-shanghai-13902/
http://www.10design.co/think/competitions/re-think-shanghai/ 

Urban Poverty in India

A vivid article about the slum situation in Mumbai issued by The Economist:
"The residents of Dharavi, allegedly Asia's biggest slum, are thriving in hardship."

Read here:  http://www.economist.com/node/10311293 

Shashikant Kawale, a courteous host

Venkatesh Dhobi, swamped with work

Business is piling up for the recyclers

Literature Mumbai

Film History

The Media Lab of the Jadavpur University is archiving old newspaper articles and other information on Indian Film history and more:

http://www.medialabju.org/icinema/

The Media Lab Website

And other interesting material on Indian film
"Our most interesting film maker"