Yesterday once more

Raakh releases in theatres on June 12 (the DVD release will follow in August) under the banner of Audacity International (also the distributors),which is a joint venture between the movie’s director Aditya Bhattacharya and producer Asif Noor and World Cinema major Palador Pictures. However,this isn’t a one-off project as Audacity,in future,intends to buy the rights and revive more such pieces of good Indian cinema.

“Raakh is undoubtedly one of the most influential voices from India and it shaped my early fascination towards films that were non-Bollywood. Restoring and re-releasing Raakh across the world is not just a passion but our duty towards cinema,” says Gautam Shiknis,MD and founder of Palador Pictures,who first suggested the concept to Bhattacharya.

“I was discussing certain other project with Palador when Gautam,who is an ardent admirer of Raakh,brought the topic up. The idea just evolved since it’s the movie’s 20th anniversary this year. I later flew down Asif who is currently based in Dubai,” says the director.

The movie is likely to release with 200 prints. However,Audacity is yet to decide whether it releases in multiplexes as well as in single screens or whether it will comply with the stand taken by the producers’ guild.

Either way,given the reigning popularity of Khan and the multiplex-producers standoff,this may seem like the perfect timing for release. Bhattacharya acknowledges this fact but insists that it’s just a coincidence. “We had other offers in the past but we chose to partner with Palador because their intent is to promote good Indian cinema in the long run as opposed to cashing in on Aamir’s popularity. But that is not to say that profitability isn’t the intent,” he says.

While the partners aren’t yet willing to reveal the names of the other films that Audacity International is looking at acquiring,chances are that regional cinema may be on their list too. “The point is to take good Indian cinema,films which have been forgotten,out to the rest of the world. People in Mumbai know more about European cinema than about regional,which is sad state of affairs,” Bhattacharya asserts.