Kumar Shahani

Indian documentary about Indian film history and P. K. Nair, the founder of the National Film Archive of India and guardian of Indian cinema. He built the archive can by can in a country where the archiving of cinema was considered unimportant.

Tackling the theme of identity from the perspective of Asian and Afro-Caribbean actors, the film emerged from an acting workshop exploring the relationship between acting idioms in theatre and cinema led by Kumar Shahani and Alaknanda Samarth.

A music student listens to stories and legends about the birth and evolution of the Khayal form of classical Indian singing. These stories are re-enacted by actors who play several key figures throughout the history of classical music.

A music student listens to stories and legends about the birth and evolution of the Khayal form of classical Indian singing. These stories are re-enacted by actors who play several key figures throughout the history of classical music.

Taran lives with her father in a small town on the cusp of industrialization. Taran has a strained relationship with her father, who is increasingly bitter as he is unable to find a suitable match for his daughter. The young woman finds solace in her interactions with an engineer.

Taran lives with her father in a small town on the cusp of industrialization. Taran has a strained relationship with her father, who is increasingly bitter as he is unable to find a suitable match for his daughter. The young woman finds solace in her interactions with an engineer.

In modern society, communication between individuals is becoming more and more difficult. Two persons may be in the same physical environment, yet it seems that a Glass Pane - invisible but strong, and very much there separates these individuals. Almost Antonioniesque in its composition, this short film is a study of a married couple who are unable to communicate with each other.

In modern society, communication between individuals is becoming more and more difficult. Two persons may be in the same physical environment, yet it seems that a Glass Pane - invisible but strong, and very much there separates these individuals. Almost Antonioniesque in its composition, this short film is a study of a married couple who are unable to communicate with each other.

Rahul, the son-in-law of an old industrialist and one of the heirs to his fortune, clashes with Dinesh, the industrialist’s nephew who is openly unscrupulous. Rahul, on his part, conceals his personal ambition under a cloak of liberalism and encourages indigenous production.

Rahul, the son-in-law of an old industrialist and one of the heirs to his fortune, clashes with Dinesh, the industrialist’s nephew who is openly unscrupulous. Rahul, on his part, conceals his personal ambition under a cloak of liberalism and encourages indigenous production.

An experiment and a homage, Bhavantarana is a spiritually intoxicating documentary about classical Odissi dance maestro Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.

An experiment and a homage, Bhavantarana is a spiritually intoxicating documentary about classical Odissi dance maestro Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.

Set in the Bengali Renaissance of the 1930s and 1940s. A group of young intellectuals get embroiled in the struggle for Indian independence, sometimes at the expense of their personal lives.

Set in the Bengali Renaissance of the 1930s and 1940s. A group of young intellectuals get embroiled in the struggle for Indian independence, sometimes at the expense of their personal lives.

Tackling the theme of identity from the perspective of Asian and Afro-Caribbean actors, the film emerged from an acting workshop exploring the relationship between acting idioms in theatre and cinema led by Kumar Shahani and Alaknanda Samarth.

Tackling the theme of identity from the perspective of Asian and Afro-Caribbean actors, the film emerged from an acting workshop exploring the relationship between acting idioms in theatre and cinema led by Kumar Shahani and Alaknanda Samarth.

The story centers around a small town entrepreneur named Maniram who makes a major profit by cheating people and selling them tainted food. His business is run by his daughter-in-law Tejo, who is married to Maniram's mentally challenged younger son. When Maniram's elder son comes back into town to get married, things start to go awry.

The story centers around a small town entrepreneur named Maniram who makes a major profit by cheating people and selling them tainted food. His business is run by his daughter-in-law Tejo, who is married to Maniram's mentally challenged younger son. When Maniram's elder son comes back into town to get married, things start to go awry.

Bamboo Flute is Kumar Shahani’s cinematic tribute to the flute and its importance to Indian civilisation.

Short film shot on 16mm Kodachrome film, made in collaboration with psychoanalyst Udayan Patel.

Short film shot on 16mm Kodachrome film, made in collaboration with psychoanalyst Udayan Patel.

Feature documentary, completed but unreleased.

Feature documentary, completed but unreleased.

Educational documentary filmed in b/w on 16mm.

Educational documentary filmed in b/w on 16mm.

Sudhir - staying in a city without family roots - symbolizes the need for commitment in all young, sensitive and thinking individuals all over the world. The family is a fast-disintegrating social institution and Sudhir's Saturday night represents a true 'dolce vita' - without Fellini's irony, but sickly and sweet. The ridiculously elementary encounter with a mother prostitute as well as his final grandiose speech to the little runaway boy lose their power — and induce a facile fulfillment.