The Russian comedy Terrible Dad conquered Indian audiences

More than 1,300 people attended Russian Film Festival in Varanasi

From 25 to 27 August, the Russian Film Festival, organized by ROSKINO, the Russian film promotion body, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, was held in Varanasi. Film screenings were timed to coincide with the meeting of G20 ministers of culture. Indian viewers saw the fantasy comedy Terrible Dad, which attracted the largest number of viewers, the full-length cartoon My Sweet Monster, the comedies Strict Regime Parents and My Life on Fast-Forward!, and the family film The Adventures of Chuck and Huck.

Ekaterina Naumova, Acting CEO of ROSKINO said: “This year we have significantly expanded our cooperation with the Indian film industry, and of course, we were glad to bring the Russian Film Festival to new cities in India. Last year, we were very warmly received in Mumbai, and now Varanasi has become a venue for the festival, and holding the event in such a sacred place evokes special feelings. We are proud to bring a part of Russian culture to this city. The Varanasi audience is very sincere and emotional, and they watched Russian films with great enthusiasm, shared their impressions after the screenings with pleasure, and expressing their warm attitude not only toward Russian cinema, but to the country and the Russian people as a whole. In just three days, there were more than 1300 viewers in Varanasi, the majority of whom were young people. Also in attendance were distinguished guests, for example, the Mayor of Varanasi Ashok Tiwari, as well as the Central MSME Ministry Member and Official Spokesperson of BJP Mumbai, Reeta Nilesh Singh. The film screenings were also attended by well-known film critics, journalists, and young screenwriters and producers starting their careers in the film industry.”

The Russian Film Festival in Varanasi was also a platform for business dialogue. The event was attended by Indian producers who have joint projects in development with Russian colleagues.

One of the most famous Indian film critics and film industry experts, Komal Nahta, came to Varanasi especially for the Russian Film Festival. He valued the prospects for cooperation and co-production with Russian filmmakers highly, saying: “Joint film production is breaking new ground. There will be difficulties, of course, but it the intent is right, I don’t think it’s an impossible task. India has gone global, and I don’t see any reasons why India and Russia can’t do something together; giving the right context, giving the right intent, it’s a possibility”. He added. “As for genres of co-productions, I think love stories would be ideal, even action films could do well, action films are very popular in India. Actually, in India all kinds of cinema work. I watched some Soviet-Indian co-production like Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. I believe that now, modern co-production projects between Russia and India will succeed”.