Throughout July and August, The Garden Cinema presents an array of screenings and special events around South Asian Heritage Month 2023. The films chosen include suggestions by our members and local residents, alongside partnership events with curator Anupma Shanker, SUPAKINO, and London Bengali Film Festival. The screenings will explore a range of themes, from identity and community to gender, faith, and family, with a special focus on music, dance and drama.

The Independence Day of India, is celebrated religiously throughout the Country on the 15th of August every year. The Garden Cinema marks this day with a special screenig of AROUND INDIA WITH A MOVIE CAMERA.

The screening will be preceded by a brief talk by eminent author and Diplomat, Amish Tripathi, Minister (Culture & Education), High Commission of India & Director, The Nehru Centre.

Drawn exclusively from the BFI National Archive, Sandhya Suri’s remarkable film features some of the earliest surviving film from India as well as gorgeous travelogues, intimate home movies and newsreels from British, French and Indian filmmakers.

Taking in Maharajas and Viceroys, fakirs and farmhands and personalities such as Sabu and Gandhi, Sandhya Suri’s film explores not only the people and places of over 70 years ago, but asks us to engage with broader themes of a shared history, shifting perspectives in the lead up to Indian independence and the ghosts of the past.

Around India boasts a superb new score that fuses western and Indian music from composer and sarod player Soumik Datta.

Amish Tripathi

Described as “India’s Tolkien” by the BBC, Amish is an author, diplomat and TV host. His unique combination of crackling storytelling, religious symbolism and profound philosophies have turned him into an Indian publishing phenomenon. Amish’s books have sold 6.5 Million Copies worldwide and have been translated into 20 languages. His ‘Shiva Trilogy’ is the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history, while his ‘Ram Chandra Series’ is the second fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history. In 2019, Amish took over as the Director of The Nehru Centre (London), the cultural wing of the High Commission of India in the UK. He has been promoting Indian Arts & Culture within the diaspora and beyond. In his role as a diplomat, Amish is successfully reconnecting the Indian diaspora to their roots as well as helping enlighten the Western audiences to India and its culture.

Screening: https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/film/around-india-with-a-movie-camera-introduction/

Full Programme: https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/season/south-asian-heritage-month/