What is the fascination and
burning curiosity about legendary personalities and their lives that refuse to die down even after they are no more?
Perhaps nothing explains this enigma better than the existence of Biopics since the earliest days of silent cinema in films dedicated to legendary personalities.
To commemorate the ever increasing popularity of biopic as a genre both in mainstream and critically acclaimed cinema, the American Center here in collaboration with Cinedarbar is now celebrating three days 'Biopic Film festival' that ends on July 26 here.
The term 'Biopics' is derived from the combination of the words 'biography' and 'pictures', which gained currency in the 1930s and still continue to excite and invite attention.
The festival kickstarted with an Academy Award winning film "Ed Wood" by Tim Burton that portrays the life story of the director, producer Edward Davis.
Films like "Lenny" by Bob Fosse dedicated to stand-up-comedian, Lenny Bruce followed by "Auto Focus" based on "Hogan's Heroes" are also among the showcase of prodigious American actors directed by some fine auteurs.
Three popular biographies such as "I'm not there" by Todd Hayne depicting the life of Bob Dylan a famous musician, "The Insider" by Michael Mann based on the true story of Jeffery Wigand and "The Wolf of Wall Street" by Martin Scorsese based on Jordan Belfort are set to conclude the festival.
The festival seeks to comprehend the inextricably intertwined nature of real and reel life, public persona and private self.
Discussions and interactive sessions seeking to analyse the ever increasing enthusiasm that the genre of biopic stokes is part of the festival.
Organisers say speakers Kumar Unnayan and Anugyan Nag will seek to share new perspectives with regard to the films screened.
Anugyan, a film scholar and an independent filmmaker is currently a senior research doctoral fellow at the School of Arts and Aesthetics finishing his PhD in Cinema studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
His films have been nominated, screened and awarded at various National and International Film Festivals. Anugyan is set to talk about the success of Bob Fosse and the man behind the movie "Ed Wood."
Unnayan, a postgraduate in English literature and keen theatre and cinema enthusiast says he aims to link theatre, cinema and literature and understand the finer nuances of the kaleidoscopic mixture.
Unnayan is set to talk about Bob Dylan - The man behind the iconic movie "I'm not there" and the immense stardom and success gained by "Auto Focus".
