Bolly Volley: If You're in the Chicago Area, Don't Miss CSAFF 2013

Bolly Volley is a column on Indian and South Asian cinema — written from Chicago, for movie buffs who look beyond the blockbusters.

What is this edition of Bolly Volley about?

This edition of Bolly Volley is not about Bollywood! It is about celebrating that section of Indian and other South Asian cinema that doesn't get labeled as "Bollywood" — brilliant movies that movie-buffs would never want to miss, but that rarely get screen time in theaters busy showing the latest blockbusters starring the Khans and Kapoors.

So when there's a film festival just a few miles away showing some of the best of South Asian cinema over a weekend, everyone must know! Until Dhoom 3 (shot in Chicago) released later that year, there couldn't be better news for South Asian movie lovers in the city. No wonder Time Out Chicago listed attending the Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2013 (then in its 4th year) as one of the top 10 things to do in the city that weekend.

Which films were the highlights?

Whether to watch the amazing movies being presented, to see the celebrities attending opening night (including Farooque Shaikh), or to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema — the 2013 festival was worth every dollar (individual screenings were just $15, and the festival pass was a bigger bang for your buck). The festival included features, shorts, and films from India, the USA, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Full film guide, schedules, and ticket information were available at csaff.org. Here are the previews that stood out:

SHAHID

Starring Rajkummar Yadav (of Kai Po Chhe!, Gangs of Wasseypur-2, and Talaash fame)

Synopsis: Shahid traces the true story of slain human-rights activist and lawyer Shahid Azmi. Against the backdrop of communal violence unleashed on Mumbai since 1993, a remarkable tale unfolds — from attempting to become a terrorist, to being wrongly imprisoned under a draconian anti-terrorism law, to becoming a criminal lawyer: the inspiring personal journey of a boy who became an unlikely messiah for human rights.

THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST

Directed by Mira Nair, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson

Synopsis: At a café, a Pakistani man, Changez, tells Bobby, an American journalist, about his experiences in the United States. The American Dream seems well within his grasp, complete with a smart and gorgeous artist girlfriend, Erica. But when the Twin Towers are attacked, a cultural divide slowly begins to crack open between Changez and Erica. Changez's dream soon slips into nightmare: he is transformed from a well-educated, upwardly mobile businessman to a scapegoat and perceived enemy.

CLUB 60

Starring Farooque Shaikh, Sarika, and Satish Shah

Synopsis: Five irrepressible club members whose lives revolve around the tennis court of Club 60 inspire a couple under depression to come out of it and fall back in love with life again.

CHOR CHOR SUPER CHOR

Starring Deepak Dobriyal (of Omkara, Delhi-6, and Dabangg 2 fame)

Synopsis: In the crowded by-lanes of old Delhi, Shukla ji runs a small photo studio as a front for small-time crime. Over the years he has groomed a bunch of youngsters in the art of pickpocketing and petty crime. Then one day a girl comes into their midst — and everything collapses.

The opening-night film: OASS

Synopsis: When Kiku was 11 years old, her life was like a dream — time spent running around in the fields in her village and playing with her little sister. Like any other girl of her age, she dreamt of a bright future that a good education could provide her. This ambition took her all the way to Delhi — only to be sold to a brothel where she was drugged, raped, kicked, and punched. Every day a little more of her soul was crushed. However, she believed she had to win this battle for freedom to help rescue other victims like her.

Editor's note: This was a preview of the 2013 festival; screening times and ticket links refer to that year. More on the festival at csaff.org.