The Center for South Asian Studies (CSAS) will launch the new South Asian Film Series on October 18, 2023, with the screening of Shoebox (2021): Mampu watches her father struggling to keep his single-screen theatre alive – as her hometown Allahabad acquires a new name and starts losing traces of its past. Faraz Ali, director and co-writer with Noopur Sinha, will be in attendance after the screening to discuss the film. “Shoebox is an exploration of the evolving urban landscape in India, particularly through the lens of Allahabad's transformation,” says Ali as he describes the film. “It encapsulates the struggle to preserve identity, memory, and heritage in the face of rapid development and change."
I want to pick films that present a thorough picture of what is happening in India,” says Prasad. “With thriving industries in multiple languages, South Asia has a rich, diverse filmmaking tradition. By featuring monthly events throughout the fall and winter, this film series will introduce film lovers to this vibrant cinema by showcasing contemporary works from across South Asia and the diaspora and bringing these filmmakers to Ann Arbor to discuss their work."
