When Less is More

Open Frame 2019 has a pared menu but packs in a plethora of award-winning films

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Stills from Kings of Horror by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh

The first Open Frame started on a modest note in 2001. A Delhi-based festival screening independent documentaries, it comprised only films by the organiser, Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT). Open Frame 2019, which will be held between September 20 and 24, has hit another modest note and is made up of PSBT films.

“We are without a current grant and hoping that funding would come through. What we do offer is rich content that is a combination of retrospective films, some of our best from the past, and some of the best over the last year,” says Rajiv Mehrotra, Managing Trustee of PSBT, for regulars, who may miss Open Frame’s usual section of foreign films. The festival will screen 42 films, including 28 new releases. Most have been critically received at festivals across the world and two of these — Janani’s Juliet and Moti Bagh — gained direct nominations for Best Long Documentary at Oscars 2019.

The former is based on a theatrical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet against the caste realities of India, while the latter turns the lens on octogenarian Vidyadutt Sharma, who is trying to keep his land alive in a fast-decimating Himalayan village.

“Over the years, we have succeeded in expanding the constituency of independent documentary filmmakers and of people who watched and appreciated documentary films. We have worked with 500 filmmakers, a third of who were first-timers, and, in 2018, 75 of our films have had 235 festival selections around the world, winning 28 awards,” says Mehrotra. He adds that films such as 2019’s Coral Woman and the 2006 film, Bare, are made on low budgets but “have pushed the boundaries of filmmaking.”Coral Woman is filmmaker Priya Thuvassery’s ode to the beauty of corals. She travels with Uma Mani, a certified scuba diver, as the film highlights the underwater world and the threat to the coral reefs of the Gulf of Mannar.

Stills from filmmaker Santana Issar’s Bare

“Born in a traditional family, inspired by the beauty of the corals, Uma learnt to swim, dive and paint in her 50s, and has since been trying to bring attention to this alarming environmental crisis through her paintings,” says Mehrotra. Bare, he adds, is “a film from the heart and made with passion and basic equipment”. Filmmaker Santana Issar uses stock home video and a soundtrack made up of telephonic conversations in Bare to explore her relationship with her alcoholic father.

As always, screenings will be followed by interactions with the filmmakers and experts.

The first such interaction will be with Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, founders of Black Ticket Films, who have made Kings of Horror. The film visits the story of one of the most important families of Bollywood, the Ramsays, who redefined horror in Indian cinema. Another filmmaker, Prithvi Konanur, shows what happens when a bunch of children are handed a camera, in his film, Action…Drama…Cut.… In another session, Umang Sabarwal and actor Sharmila Tagore will be present for an interaction after the screening of Starring Tagore, a film about the actor who was introduced to the screen as a 13-year-old by Satyajit Ray and has successfully balanced classical and popular cinema.

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Stills from Priya Thuvassery’s Coral Woman

A different kind of film, Notes on Guler, traces the memories and legacies of an erstwhile principality that is now submerged beneath a dam. Memory is also one of the elements that drives Lovely Villa: Architecture as Autobiography, by Rohan Shivkumar, which explores the relationship of architecture, everyday life, family, coming of age and the idea of home. Gumnaam Din, on the other hand, is about missing people who left for the city for work and the people left behind who await their return.

Open Frame will be held at India International Centre, Delhi, from September 20-24. Entry: Free

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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