Baahubali: The Conclusion’ to premiere during UK-India Year of Culture
LONDON: Much-awaited blockbuster, Baahubali: The Conclusion will get its UK premiere on Apr 27 as part of the cultural celebrations held to mark the 70th anniversary of India’s independence.
The UK-India Year of Culture has just been unveiled by the British Council, the Indian High Commission and the UK government. The year will see cultural events, exhibitions and activities in both countries. The British Film Institute will present an India on Film programme from April through December. Similarly, British cinema will be showcased in India.
Directed by SS Rajamouli and starring Telugu superstar Prabhas, Baahubali: The Beginning was a 2015 global sensation that highlighted the wealth of Indian cinema from beyond Hindi-language Bollywood.
The British Council and Aardman Animations are collaborating on Saptan Stories where seven British and Indian artists each illustrate a sevenpart story that will be available on an interactive digital platform.
The BFI National Archive’s restoration of Franz Osten’s 1929 India/Germany/ U.K. coproduction Shiraz will premiere as the archive gala at the 61st London Film Festival in October, followed by a screening in India with the Taj Mahal as backdrop. Indo-British musician Anoushka Shankar will accompany both screenings with a new live score.
In August, the Archive will also make available a collection of 300 newly- digitised films shot in India during the early 20th Century, including the oldest surviving footage of India on film from 1899. Arts Council England has invested more than US$ 3.1 million (about RM14 million) in collaborations between artists in England and India.
Creative Scotland and Wales Art International will also have similar grants, while other initiatives flow from organisations including the British Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai, the National Museum, New Delhi, the British Library.