The Attacks of 26/11 selected for Berlinale

Plus: Film to focus on unexplored Delhi; Abraham shoots new film with Fakhri; Listen Amaya selected for London Asian fest

The producer Parag Sanghavi and the director Ram Gopal Varma at the first look launch of The Attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai. IANS

Ram Gopal Varma's new film The Attacks of 26/11 has been selected for the Berlin International Film Festival, to be held from February 7 to 17. The crime thriller is based on the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The film's producer Parag Sanghvi says he is honoured. "I am happy that I convinced Ramu to make this film in the first place. It is an honour for us to have our film at the prestigious Berlin film festival," said Sanghvi. "It is a matter of prestige for us, and to get invited itself is a very big thing." The film's producers, Alumbra Entertainment and Eros International, submitted a rough cut to the festival and are currently putting the final touches to the movie. The Attacks of 26/11 is scheduled to be released in India on March 1. - IANS

Film to focus on unexplored Delhi

The filmmaker Sachin Gupta is putting Delhi's unexplored areas in the spotlight through his new film Paranthe Wali Gali, starring the actors Anuj Saxena, Avijit Dutt and Neha Pawar. "The story of Paranthe Wali Gali starts from the famous and popular Gali Paranthe Wali [a culinary destination in Delhi] then moves into the lives of the characters. In the film, we are trying to touch that part of Delhi that has not been explored until now," said the writer and director. Shooting for the romantic comedy begins this month. Speaking about the casting for his film, Gupta said: "Nowadays, it's all about story and content. As long as an actor can deliver what is required, a known actor is not really the demand." - IANS

Abraham's film with Fakhri

The first phase of filming for Madras Cafe, starring John Abraham and Nargis Fakhri, was completed last week, said the movie's director Shoojit Sircar. "The first schedule was shot in various parts of south India. It was great shooting for the film," said the filmmaker. Madras Cafe, produced by Abraham, was earlier titled Jaffna. "The second schedule will be shot in Mumbai, then abroad, and then again in few parts of south India," said Sircar. He described the thriller as "a simple spy story set in India and Sri Lanka". Sircar's most recent film Vicky Donor not only won critical acclaim but also went on to enjoy box-office success. - IANS

Listen Amaya selected for London Asian fest

The Indian film Listen Amaya will be screened at the 15th London Asian Film Festival, to be held from March 16 to 24 in the UK. Directed by Avinash Kumar Singh, the film features the actors Farooq Shaikh and Deepti Naval who are reuniting on the big screen nearly three decades after their 1983 movie Katha. "I'm glad and very much happy this film has been selected for the London Asian Film Festival. Avinash has tried to tell a beautiful story and it is a very sweet film," said the 64-year-old Shaikh. Self-funded, Listen Amaya was awarded Best Feature Film and Best Director at the New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest in October. - IANS