FIPRESCI-India has nominated 20 Indian Feature Films as the TOP-20 of 2019 for final round of voting for the FIPRESCI-India Grand-Prix for the Best Indian Feature Film of 2019. Two Bangla films made the list including Jaya Ahsan starrer Bini Sutoy and Aparna Sen's Ghawre Bairey Aaj.
FIPRESCI is an association of the national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from 50 countries worldwide. The India Chapter of FIPRESCI was founded in the year 1992.
Here is a rundown of FIPRESCI-India’s TOP-20 of 2019, in no particular order :
Bini Sutoy (Bangla):
Director: Atanu Ghosh
Kajal (Ritwick Chakraborty) and Sraboni (Jaya Ahsan), two people in their mid thirties, meet at a reality game show audition. Common background helps them in striking up a quick bond. A freak accident injures Sraboni and Kajal takes her to the doctor. On the way, they share two engrossing stories from their lives. The captivating human drama culminates in an ironic altercation between them.
Aamis/ Ravenin (Assamese):
Director: Bhaskar Hazarika
Two chaste lovers bow down to social taboos and repress their feelings, but doing so pushes them towards a horrific crime.
Article 15 (Hindi)
Director: Anubhav Sinha
In the rural heartlands of India, an upright police officer sets out on a crusade against violent caste-based crimes and discrimination.
Super Deluxe (Tamil)
Director: Thiagarajan Kumararaja
An unfaithful newly-wed wife, an estranged father, a priest and an angry son suddenly find themselves in the most unexpected predicaments, each poised to experience their destiny, all on one fateful day.
Chola (Malayalam)
Director: Sanal Kumar Sasidharan
Teenage Janaki departs for a day in the city at dawn. Her suitor has arranged for a ride with his boss, a sullen and dark man who lets Janaki know that he knows she's there without her mother's permission.
Hellaro (Gujrati)
Director: Abhishek Shah
A group of suppressed women from a village in Gujarat find someone in the desert and their lives are changed forever.
Kumbalangi Nights (Malayalam)
Director: Madhu C Narayanan
The film revolves around four brothers who share a love-hate relationship with each other. Their relationship progresses to another level when Saji, Boney, and Franky decide to help Bobby stand by his love.
Ghawre Bairey Aaj/ The Home and The World Today (Bangla)
Director: Aparna Sen
Ghawre Bairey Aaj is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's novel 'Ghawre Bairey' (Home and the World) and is a contemporary retelling of love triangle involving Tagore's characters Nikhilesh, Sandip and Bimala.
Run Kalyani (Malayalam)
Director: Geetha J
A gently beguiling debut feature fiction from Geetha J. A poetic and realist drama about duties, dreams and desires that draws you into the world of Kalyani.
Veyilmarangal/ Trees Under the Sun (Malayalam)
Director: Bijukumar Damodaran
After a village in Kerala is flooded, A scheduled caste family which doesn't get any support from government migrates to Himachal Pradesh in search of job & struggles to adapt in a totally new environment conditions.
The list also includes Aanandi Gopal (Marathi) by Sameer Vidwans, Aani Maani (Hindi) by Fahim Irshaad, Aise Hee/ Just Like That (Hindi) by Kislay Gonzalvez, Biriyani/ Flavours of Flesh (Malayalam) by Sajin Babu, Bombay Rose (Bambaiyya) by Gitanjali Rao, Eeb Allay Ooo! (Hindi) by Prateek Vats, Gamak Ghar (Maithili) by Achal Mishra, Iewduh/ Market (Khasi) by Pradip Kurbah, Jallikattu (Malayalam) by Lijo Jose Pellissery and Maadathy/ An Unfairy Tale (Tamil) by Leena Manimekalai.
The winner of the FIPRESCI-India Grand-Prix 2019 will be announced soon.
