Smita Patil: Spice and Fire

Smita Patil was only 31 years old when she suddenly passed away but left behind a rich body of work. Patil’s performances, marked by a blend of vulnerability and defiance, are essential to understanding the story of Indian Parallel Cinema, one of South Asia’s first post-colonial film movements. From her collaborations with filmmakers like Shyam Benegal and Ketan Mehta to her unflinching portrayals of women grappling with societal constraints, Patil’s filmography offers a compelling study in both the politics of feminism and art of screen acting. Join us as we revisit some of her best films, many of which have never been screened in the UK before, in this first UK retrospective of her work. Introduction by Dr. Omar Ahmed (moviemahal.net), programme advisor for the spotlight, and a UK based film scholar, teacher, writer and international curator of South Asian Cinema.

This specially curated season is part of our Spotlights programme, shining a light on new parts of world cinema every edition of the festival.