Aruna Vasudev – Mother of Asian Cinema(2021)
Aruna Vasudev, Founder of Netpac, Cinemaya & Cinefan Film festival has touched the lives of many in the world of Cinema. This documentary traces her roots from her humble origins in an undivided British India, to corridors of cinematic universe. It brings together her journey as a film critic, cinema activist and an impresario, weaving a tapestry that connects the dots that make the large canvas that we know as Asian Cinema Renaissance. This film explores her dynamism painted through a narrative unfolding lives of critics, filmmakers, curators and programmers – who are hidden maestros that largely make the cinephilia culture and by large remain unsung in histories of Cinema.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 December 2021
- Director
- Supriya Suri
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 5m
Storyline
This documentary follows Aruna Vasudev, a key figure in Asian film. It traces her journey from her early life in British India to becoming a film critic, activist, and festival founder. The film highlights her work and features other behind-the-scenes voices that helped shape Asian cinema.
“The unsung architect of Asian cinema's revival.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The documentary was filmed across multiple countries, including India, France, and South Korea, to capture Aruna Vasudev's global influence.
- It features rare archival footage from the early days of the Cinemaya film magazine, which she founded in 1988.
- Director Supriya Suri spent over three years researching and interviewing more than 40 film personalities for the project.
- The film includes previously unseen photographs from Vasudev's personal collection, showing her with iconic filmmakers like Akira Kurosawa.
- It highlights how Vasudev's Cinefan festival in Delhi was one of the first in India to consistently showcase Central Asian cinema.
- The documentary was partially funded through a grant from the India Foundation for the Arts, supporting its independent production.
- Many interviews were conducted at the historic Institut Lumière in Lyon, a key location in film history.