Treat in twos

Tarana

In deciding to revisit two breathtaking actors on the big screen, Osianama has hit on a cult goldmine with its East-meets-West film festival and exhibition, named The Two Thespians. This one pays homage to Marlon Brando and Dilip Kumar, showcasing some of their stellar acts. The ongoing festival also exhibits original vintage posters and film memorabilia, from the Osian's archive, associated with these films. The full set of publicity art from Mugha-e-azam, the Dilip Kumar starrer which we never tire of, is on display, along with monochrome photographic stills and montage. Neville Tuli, founder of Osianama, says, "The Marlon Brando Collection as part of the Osian's Archives is vast and unique with many photographs, posters, artifacts, personal letters. Most have not been publicly displayed before in India. The exhibition will also showcase some of the finest art, photography, and design from films like Andaaz, Sunghursh and Yahudi, revealing that unique Indian cinematic hoarding aesthetic, which cannot but delight and arouse." To save you time, we selected a flick per day to head for.

Tarana (1951)
December 6, 3 PM: The unfinished love story between Dilip Kumar and Madhubala is one of Indian cinema's legends, and this was their first movie together. Directed by Ram Daryani, the movie is about a doctor who returns home from abroad and gets stranded in a village. He falls in love with the daughter of his blind host, only to be met with disapproval.

Apocalypse Now (1979)
December 9, 9 PM: Directed by Francis Coppola and based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkeness, this is one movie you will want to get your bunch of friends along for. The film features an older Brando, sharing screen space with Martin Sheen and Robert Duvall. Update yourself on film trivia before you head for this one, and do be on time - you don't want to miss the opening sequence on the big screen.

Original poster of Apocalypse Now. PICS/The Osian's Archive & Library Collection

Kohinoor (1960)
December 7, 6 PM: Kumar won a Filmfare for his role in this film, directed by SU Sunny. After playing intensely tragic roles a la Devdas, it is said that Kumar's shrink recommended that he try something lighter. In Kohinoor, Kumar is a sword-wielding prince, jumping from action sequences to comical scenes.

Karma (1986)
December 8, 8.30 PM: Forest rangers, police officers, a terrorist leader, young romance - it is everything you could ask in Hindi cinema, and more. Featuring a star ensemble - Nutan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Naseeruddin Shah, Sridevi, Anupam Kher, and Kumar - the film has a thoroughly convoluted and engaging plot. It also saw the first time that Kumar was paired with Nutan.

On the Waterfront (1954)
December 6, 9 PM: Here is where you can watch Brando's pout, uninterrupted, for ages. The film, which won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor, has elements of film noir. It is based on "Crime on the Waterfront", a series of investigative articles that were published in the New York Sun, which won a Pulitzer. Corruption, racketeering and extortion are the stuff of this thriller.

Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
December 10, 6 PM: Not among one of the Brando's critically acclaimed films, Reflections still deserves your undivided attention for its cinematography. Directed by John Huston and based on a novel by Carson McCullers, the film deals with homosexuality, murder, repression and voyeurism. Learn for the characters' darkest desires and deepest secrets, and take home a few.
Where: Liberty Cinema, Marine Lines
When: Till Dec 10
Entry: Rs 500
Call: 22084521
Free

Visit www.osianama.com for the full schedule