Manto, Rajma Chawal, Tumbba among Indian films at London festival

The 62nd London Film Festival which opens here on Wednesday will show more than 200 films from 77 countries with more than a third of them from women filmmakers, including India's ‘Manto’ directed by Nandita Das. One of the world's most prestigious film festivals will open with Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen's thriller ‘Widows’.

Indian films are a growing feature at international film events and the London festival is no exception. Although Das's biopic on the famous writer Manto, has already been premiered in India and elsewhere, the Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer is still a prominent entry. Three other Indian films which are eagerly awaited at the festival are Leena Yadav's ‘Rajma Chawal’, Rahi Anil Barve's ‘Tumbbad’ and Dar Gai's ‘Namdev Bhau in Search of Silence’.

In ‘Rajma Chawal’ Rishi Kapoor gives a charming performance as a newly-widowed father who's struggling to cope with the unfolding situation. “Tumbbad’ is about the cursed family of a now deserted village. Another Indian film being shown at the festival is Ivan Ayr's debut ‘Soni’, about a policewoman in Delhi.

The 12-day London Film Festival will close on October 21 with the world premiere of Jon S. Baird's ‘Stan & Ollie’. This funny film starring Steve Coogan and John C, Reilly features a double act of Laurel and Hardy. The London Film Festival has featured some of the world's best movie makers. The first film ever to be shown at the festival was Akira Kurosawa's ‘Throne of Blood’ in 1957.