When he participated in yesterday’s SAJA webcast about the Satyajit Ray retrospective that opens today at Lincoln Center, Richard Pena, Program Director for the Film Society, mentioned something in a  throwaway comment that just warmed my heart to no end:   the Film Society at Lincoln Center will be holding a tribute to Guru Dutt this coming fall, as part of the annual New York Film Festival.

What a treat that will be, to see Dutt’s work up on the big screen, right in the heart of Manhattan…

Can’t wait!

If you’ve never seen his work before, here’s a chance to see why he’s so revered…..Lincoln Center begins a two-week homage to Satyajit Ray starting tomorrow, April 15, and going on ’til April 30, at the Walter Reade theater.

There will be screenings of over 20 of his films (many in new 35mm prints), and panel discussions about his work, and Ray’s son, also a filmmaker, will be participating.

Many more details here.

And, you can listen in to a SAJA webcast at 11am (NY time) about the whole Ray retrospective, here.

…one of the March 12th bombs went off here, inside the Sea Rock.

When I first saw the hotel, in 2005, I was told by my companion that it was rumored to be haunted.   We had drinks and bad Chinese food in the quasi-Tiki bar at the back, looking directly down on the blackness of the ocean as we ate.   As we left through the lobby afterward, the place was indeed eerily deserted.

Now, when back there in December last year, the hotel was vacated, windows all removed, street dogs and  guards stationed out front.   On my last day in the city, I was told that the property had been bought by Mandarin Oriental  and is due to be renovated.

A brilliant rendition of that horrible Black Friday can be seen in Anurag Kashyap’s 2007 release.    

Cue the cute girl in the gold bodysuit:

The film biz is indeed everywhere.   As I first set foot inside the national arrivals terminal at the airport, I was greeted by an SRK Tag Heuer ad.   Then  SRK was over at the hotel the other night for an awards ceremony, Mr. Bachchan pere was due by today for another event, and Jimmy Sheirgill was at the coffee shop for a bite to eat this evening.   (He was interviewed on Anupama Chopra’s Picture This Friday evening, and revealed the most beautiful singing voice.   Quite stunning.)

Pleasant visit to Mount Mary Basilica (of Amar, Akbar, Anthony fame) earlier today, interesting to see  Indian touches (removal of shoes at the entrance to the church, garlands around the neck of Jesus on the crucifix, and a very attractive hijra waiting on the altar to touch the feet of Jesus on the crucifix).   My favorite moment was when a street dog came trotting in and proceeded up the center aisle of the church.   Priceless.

Here are a few pics:

Only thing missing is  Sreenivasan Jain:

Telugu film shoot on Sunday morning:

Taxi Ganesha:

It was just announced that Deepa Mehta’s film Water, Canada’s entry this year for best foreign film at the Academy Awards, has been selected as one of the final group in the running.

An earlier  review of  the film is here.