IFFI 2017 International Cinema Catalogue

PANEL DISCUSSION
Literary Inspirations Cinema and the Written Word
“Is contemporary cinema reflecting the literature of our times” this session will be moderated by Ms Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Producer
& Actress.
Moderator - Vani Tripathi Tikoo Producer & Actress
Vani Tripathi Tikoo is one of the youngest ever members of the Central Board of Film Certification. Her campaigns and outreach
programmes as an artist and activist have focused on encouraging women’s participation in politics and bringing the youth
to a universal platform that addresses issues like education, empowerment and employment. As a producer, she has been
deeply involved in programmes related to environment and global sustainability. She has also been closely involved in theatre,
films and television, having worked in India as well as abroad. As an actor, she has about 50 plays, 40-odd TV serials and
six films to her credit. After graduating in political science from Delhi University, she went to the Living Theatre Academy of
Drama and learnt acting under the guidance of the legendary theatre guru Ebrahim Alkazi. The noted theatre personalities Vani
has worked with include B.V. Karanth, Maya Rao, Barry John and Tripurari Sharma. Later, she worked as an actor-teacher at
the National School of Drama’s Theatre in Education Company. She founded the country’s first state government-run drama
school in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Natya Vidyalaya, in 2011. Vani was also attached to journalism and broadcasting in India.
She continues to contribute to Indian newspapers from time to time. She is currently on the Core Committee for the International
Film Festival of India.
Amish Tripathi
Described as ‘India’s first literary popstar’ by world-renowned film director Shekhar Kapur, Amish’s unique combination of crackling
story-telling, religious symbolism and profound philosophies has made him an overnight publishing phenomenon, with spiritual
guru Deepak Chopra hailing Amish’s books as ‘archetypal and stirring’.
Six of his books – The Immortals of Meluha (2010), The Secret of the Nagas (2011) and The Oath of the Vayuputras (2013), which
collectively comprise the Shiva Trilogy, and Scion of Ikshvaku (2015), Sita – Warrior of Mithila (2017), Immortal India – Young
Country, Timeless Civilisation have 4 million copies in print. His books have been translated into 19 Indian and foreign languages.
The Shiva Trilogy is the fastest selling book series in Indian publishing history. Amish is a graduate of IIM-Calcutta and worked for
14 years in the financial services industry before turning to full-time writing.
Yatindra Mishra
Poet, editor, music and cinema scholar, Yatindra Mishra has four collections of Hindi poetry to his credit. He has written about the
life and work of various eminent artists Girija Devi, Sonal Mansingh and Ustad Bismillah Khan. His latest book Lata: Sur-Gatha’
on legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar won the National Film Award for Best Writing on Cinema and an award for Best
Writing at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Recipient of Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Award and Jnanpith Fellowship,
Mishra has been an advisor to the DD Bharati Channel, Doordarshan, Prasar Bharati (2014-2016). He lives in Ayodhya.
Prasoon Joshi CBFC CEO
One of the most respected names in the Indian film industry, Prasoon Joshi is more than just a talented lyricist. He is the chief
of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Born in Uttarakhand’s Almora, the 45-year-old poet and screenwriter is a
successful ad man. A science graduate, Joshi started his career with Ogilvy and Mather and went on to become the executive
vice-president of McCann-Erickson. He began writing lyrics in 1999 with Bhopal Express, but his big break in films came with the
song Kaun dagar, kaun shehar in Rajkumar Santoshi’s 2001 film Lajja. He became more prominent after penning songs for films
like Fanaa, Rang De Basanti, Black, Delhi 6 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. In 2007, Joshi won the National Award for Best Lyrics for
Taare Zameen Par and a second one for Chittagong in 2013. Recently, his lyrics for Neerja songs were also well received. Joshi
was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015.