A few photos from the stellar line-up at SAIFF 2013 last night.

Maliya Scotch Marmo, screenwriter for Good morning, Karachi

When I arrived at the festival yesterday, there was a spillover crowd in the lobby of the NYIT building looking for tickets to Good morning, Karachi, and I think many went home with no joy, because the theater was full to capacity.

That says a lot about the interest for this film, when so many people would come out and get drenched on a cold, rainy autumn night (and a Friday, no less) in an attempt to see this film.  And they were on to something – I really liked it (more later).

Nayyareen Chhapra, production designer, and Harune Massey, first assistant director, of Good morning, Karachi

After seeing Good morning, Karachi, I intended to stay only to watch the short by Rodd Rathjen, Tau Seru, set in Ladakh, and purposely planned to exit before Richie Mehta’s Siddharth started, because, frankly, the story of two parents searching for their lost son between Delhi, Ludhiana and Mumbai just seemed like it was going to be a really tough watch, but I got hooked within the first three minutes and stayed.  And I am so glad I did.

Richie Mehta, writer and director of Siddharth

There are still some really promising films to be seen today,December 7th, including the festival closing with The Good Road, India’s foreign language entry to the Academy Awards.

Amit Kumar

The 10th South Asian International Film Festival opened tonight with a screening of Amit Kumar’s Monsoon Shootout.  The director, accompanied by his two leading men (Vijay Varma and Nawazuddin Siddiqui) chatted amiably and enthusiastically prior to screening and at a Q & A after.

Also spotted on the red carpet, Prashant Bhargava, director of the wonderful Patang (in which Nawazuddin Siddiqui starred), and the very mobile Samrat Chakrabarti, who was just over in Kolkata for the release of Sada Kalo Abcha (in which he played the lead).

(L-R) Prashant Bhargava, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Samrat Chakrabarti

As you would imagine – given the rather jet-propelled apogee Siddiqui’s career has been enjoying recently – the UP native was much in demand tonight, by press and public alike.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

One other director I spotted mixing and mingling was Q, he of Gandu fame from SAIFF 2010.

When asked what we could look forward to this year with his Tasher Desh (screening at SAIFF this week), Q replied “A surprise.”  Well, if you want to find out more, come see the film on Thursday, December 5th at 10pm.

Q (the man formerly known as Kaushik Mukherjee)

SAIFF 2013 runs through to Sunday, December 8th.  More information about the festival can be found here.

As the South Asian International Film Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the event opens tonight with Amit Kumar’s Monsoon Shootout and will have not just the director but also the lead actors Vijay Verma and is-there-any-recent-or-upcoming-film-this-guy-is-not-appearing-in Nawazuddin Siddiqui present for a post-screening Q&A.  Monsoon Shootout was well received when it premiered at Cannes in May.

Monsoon Shootout directed by Amit Kumar

SAIFF 2013 closes with The Good Road, India’s official entry to the Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards.

Ankhon Dekhi directed by Rajat Kapoor

Other films being screened include Ankhon Dekhi which was written and directed by Rajat Kapoor (he acts in it as well, and is due to appear for the Q&A afterward), and the always attention-commanding director/rapper/provacateur Q returns to the festival where he opened a lot of eyes three years ago with Gandu.  This time around he brings with him his Tasher Desh, which – to judge by the trailer – certainly looks visually compelling.

Tasher Desh directed by Q

The festival runs from December 3rd to the 8th in New York City.  More details are here.