The 27th edition of the UK Asian Film Festival (UKAFF) came to an end with a packed gala event consisting of an awards ceremony, In-Focus interviews and an exclusive screening event…
By Suman Bhuchar
THIS was a day to immerse yourself in cinema at the Riverside Studios and rub shoulders with cineastes and music composers.
The Indian duo Vishal and Sheykhar were in attendance and there to promote their forthcoming musical, ‘Come Fall in Love’ – based on the film, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ (fondly called ‘DDLJ’) which opens at the Manchester Opera House on May 29.
Talking to Samir Bhamra, artistic director of Phizzical Productions and art director of UKAFF – who appeared a bit star struck – the duo were asked light hearted questions around their friendship and their working practice.
UKAFF creative director
Sheykhar revealed that when ‘DDLJ’ first came out underneath the poster, was the phrase ‘Come Fall in Love’ – and this has now been given a new meaning through this musical.
Vishal explained that getting to tell the story of Indians living in the UK coping with both tradition and modernity at the same time, in a new format with 18 new English songs, as well as rekindling audiences love and nostalgia for ‘DDLJ’, was the bold ambition for the musical.
“It’s a musical, so everything is live, it’s the actors doing the singing. ‘DDLJ’ is more than a film, it is a cultural stamp.”
In terms of ‘Come Fall in Love’, they said that Adi (Aditya Chopra, the director of the film and the upcoming musical) asked them to be part of it in 2020.
The duo had never tried musical theatre and over a Zoom call, they did the music to the book (as the script is known in musicals) written by Nell Benjamin (‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Mean Girls’) who also wrote the songs for the show.
Sheykhar explained that: “For film music, you record a song, master the song, give it to the director, (s/he) goes and shoot it and it’s done, here it lives every single day, you can make changes. It’s such an inclusive process.”
For those who enjoy disco and pop music, it was a chance to get time with Biddu – that doyen and pioneer of pop who gave us such hits as ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ and ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’, the 1979 song from the film, ‘Qurbani’, performed by Nazia Hassan.
Biddu was interviewed by broadcaster and presenter, Pedro Carvalho and fittingly presented with the Golden Flame Lifetime achievement in Music award.
Carvalho told www.asianculturevulture.com that Biddu’s career achievement was massive and he was the most successful Indian in the music industry globally, at a time when it was strongly controlled by the American market.
“He was a huge ambassador for Disco Music in Europe, working with artists like Tina Charles, Carl Douglas and creating the Biddu Orchestra which started the trend for instrumental disco tracks during the 1980s and 1990s.”
For cinema culture fans, it was a treat to rub shoulders with trailblazer filmmakers like, the 104 year-old Yavar Abbas, who was awarded the Golden Flame Award for Achievement in Film & Television; and younger generation directors, such as Sandhya Suri, who received the Flame Award for Making Waves Internationally with her film, ‘Santosh’. (This was the British entry for the Oscars 2025 in the Best International Film Category and acv covered its world premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival last year).
Abbas whose work “illuminated the cultural narratives of South Asia” has had a huge career.
He began as a combat cameraman in the army and was posted to Burma and documented the Japanese surrender in 1945. He then relocated to the UK and began a career in the media. “I’m gobsmacked,” he said on his award.
Audiences were also treated to a documentary screening of ‘Kehta Hai Joker’ (‘So Says the Joker’) made by producer Bobby Bedi.
He was interviewed on stage about the legacy of Raj Kapoor by journalist and Indian Journalist Association president, Nabanita Sircar. He he was awarded a Golden Flame Award for Producing Powerful Narratives. He had also helped to bring ‘Bandit Queen‘ to the screen (1994).
The film was a chance to glimpse into the inner workings of India’s most celebrated filmmaker and star Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) – dubbed “the showman” – through interviews with people such as Shyam Benegal, his children (Randhir, Rajiv) and other members of the Kapoor family.
It also featured archive footage of him in Russia with the Bollywood siren Nargis to the soundtrack of songs from his most iconic biographical film, ‘Mera Naam Joker’ (1970).
Other in conversations included one with Indian socialite and best-selling novelist Shobhaa Dé and filmmaker Suri.
The festival theme this year was Longing and Belonging, and the CEO and Festival Director, Pushpinder Chowdhry, said the focus was “on stories of migrant journeys, borders crossed and stories seeking a home”.
The opening film, ‘My Melbourne’ – an anthology directed by four filmmakers, Onir, Rima Das, Imtiaz Ali and Kabir Khan reflected the theme as it dealt with true life experiences of underrepresented voices in Australia.
Indian Journalist Association (IJA) president
It received the Tongues on Fire, Flame Award 2025 Celebrating, Longing and Belonging, as well winning the Best Film award. (Our review link is below).
‘The Seas Between Us’ by Faisal Luchmedial received the Best Short Film Award. It deals with the migrant experience of Indians in Trinidad during the 1960s.
The theme for the 28th film festival – next year – is to be Stories That Bind Us.
The UK Asian Film Festival is presented by Tongues on Fire and is supported by the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding.
This year’s festival was supported by broadcast partners Lyca Radio and Geo TV and the awards ceremony took place on Sunday, May 11.
Sailesh Ram adds…Acv also covered a day focused on emerging producers as UKAFF hosted a high level panel at the BFI Southbank to discuss entry, benefits of the co-production treaty between the UK and India, as well hear some live new film pitches from emerging South Asian British producers and showrunners. Called Future Forward, it was both entertaining and educative and was preceded by a screening of the British made ‘Sister Midnight‘ which had its world premiere screening as an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival last year and has been released in cinemas in India. It stars Radhika Apte as a new bride who isn’t much into convention and is a surreal black comedy that has a lot going for it. Producer Alastair Clark was among the participants on the panel and talked about the advantages of working under the co-production treaty. (See the link below for more). ACV also covered the Opening with a series of red carpet interviews and a review of ‘My Melbourne‘.
All pictures: ©Raakesh Katwa
NB these pictures have been cropped to suit house page style
(UKAFF Best Actor)
Full list of award winners
Golden Flame Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 for Music: Biddu
Golden Flame Award 2025 for Excellence in Cinema & Cultural Journalism: Shobhaa De
Golden Flame Award 2025 for Outstanding Achievement in Film and Television: Yavar Abbas
Golden Flame Award 2025 for Producing Powerful Narratives: Bobby Bedi
Flame Award 2025 for Making Waves Internationally: Sandhya Suri for Santosh
Flame Award 2025 Best Short Film: The Seas Between Us – Faisal Lutchmedial
Flame Award 2025 Emerging Curators Choice: The Umesh Chronicles
Flame Film Wallahs Choice Award 2025: Chamkila (Netflix)
Flame Award 2025 Best Long Short: Don’t be Late, Myra
Fire Flame Award 2025 Best Documentary: Slaves of the Empire
Fire Flame Award 2025 Best Debut Director: Usman Riaz
Fire Flame Award 2025 Celebrating Longing and Belonging: My Melbourne
Flame Award 2025 Best Director: Onir for We Are Faheem and Karun
Flame Award 2025 Best Actor: Molshri for Nukkad Naatak
Flame Award 2025 Best Regional Film: Jai Mata Ji – Let’s Rock
Flame Award 2025 for Bridging Cultures: British Asian Film – A Teacher’s Gift
Flame Award 2025 for Best Cinematography: The Collaborator
Fire, Flame Award 2025 Best Film: My Melbourne
