The following has been written by Monica, a Spanish girl. All the views and opinion about the festival are solely of the author*.
* – I always wanted to say something like that. Anyways the above is strictly not to be taken seriously. The below is good.
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Today is the first day of Imagine India Madrid film festival. It is the 5th edition of the festival and I am attending for the first time. I hope it is good. It’s been a year since I last was in Madrid and a couple of years since I went on holidays. I need a break. I spend my life cooped up at home studying and I had completely forgotten there is life out there. I realize how much I am missing…
I am quite excited about this festival because I read on the net that Mira Nair, Sharmila Tagore, A. R. Rahman, Aamir Khan and some other celebrities are attending this year. But at the same time I am annoyed and nervous because even though the festival is supposed to start today, I haven’t got any information about the times for the films yet. How come? The website hasn’t been updated for ages. So I am groping my way to Imagine India. This beginning makes me suspicious… I don’t like it.
According to the festival’s website it will take place in different cinemas of the city. I know where most of them are so that makes me calm down a bit. I have somehow managed to find one of the cinema’s website: Cine Estudio –Círculo de Bellas Artes. At least they are showing the dates and times for the conferences and meetings that will take place there. I have printed them so this will have to be my first stop when I arrive.
I had “forgotten” what moving around a big city is like. I hate but at the same time love Madrid. I hate living here when I don’t have the time to enjoy the advantages of it. And I love it when I have the time for leisure and the weather is nice. And now it is leisure time and it is not either winter or summer, so I suppose it should be a wonderful experience. By the time I got settled and arrived at one of the cinemas, the first film had just started. Oh, no! I am missing Rang De Basanti. This cannot be happening! I wanted to watch this film very badly. I start panicking – typical of me! – and ask for a programme. That’s better. At least now I know there are only three cinemas showing the films and they are not too far away from each other. I also have the dates and times for each film. Good. However I am in a terrible mood because of RDB.
Cine Estudio – Circulo de Bellas Artes.
Next step: Mira Nair’s conference. According to my notes from El Círculo de Bellas Artes website, it takes place today at 19:00. It is already past five so everything is under control. I will go to El Círculo de Bellas Artes which is next door to Cine Estudio and ask about all these conferences. The lady by the Information desk doesn’t really know about the times for all the conferences during the week. Amazing! Anyway, I ask about today, the one at 19:00. But she tells me it has been brought forward to 17:00. How is that possible? I ask her if she would let me in even though it has already started and she does.
I take the lift to the floor where Mira Nair is but when I open the door someone tells me it has been cancelled because of lack of people. I just can’t believe it. This is just not happening. Where’s the hidden camera? Anyway, I tell her that I would like to have Mira’s autograph if possible and she lets me in. Thank goodness something is going to work! Some TV channel is interviewing Mira and meanwhile I take some pictures of her. When she finishes her interview I am allowed to ask her to sign my copy of Monsoon wedding. She apologises for the cancellation several times. She looks like a very sweet person. We talk a bit about the film. She says Monsoon Wedding has got a bit of a Spanish flavour in it and I agree. I tell her that first time I saw it I thought that Shefali Shah had sort of Andalusian look. We also talk about Salaam Bombay. I am glad I have met her. She has been so kind that I have somehow forgotten my anger. She’s got a beautiful smile and very pretty eyes. It is a shame that the conference didn’t take place though. I just can’t understand it.
Mira Nair’s being interviewed for some TV channel.
Anyway, after talking a bit to her I feel a bit embarrassed because the organizers are waiting for her so I guess it is time to say goodbye. I made a mistake and forgot to ask Mira for an autograph to Punds! I mustn’t forget next time!
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To be continued………..
Sweet!
LOL@ autograph for Punds!!!
vi
The following has been written by ** Moncia **, a Spanish girl. All the views and opinion about the festival are solely of the author*.
Arre yaar uska naam * Monica * hai!
Thanks Vi! I didn’t forget from that time onwards! 😉
Ashu, That’s it: Mera nam Monica hai. I had to use a lot of cells for that! 😛
[…] Monica has completed five days successfully at Imagine India. She comes on the 6th day to find an empty conference for a film-maker long forgotten. You can find the first day here and here, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day and Fifth Day. […]
[…] have not been met. Yet she still hopes.The 6 days ordeal can be found here. The first Day in part 1 and Part 2 followed by Second Day, Third day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day and Sixth […]