Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala to be screened at John F. Kennedy Center

March 14, 2011 - 12:00 AM IST

The prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that claims to bring in only the very best of the world's performing arts to Washington DC is hosting Ketan Mehta's film Mirch Masala on the 20th of March.

"It's a moment of great honour and pride for me that my film Mirch Masala, considered one of the first crossover films, is selected to feature portrayal of women in Indian films since the 1960s. The Kennedy Centre enjoys an international reputation for the quality of films screened at the festival. I am thrilled that Mirch Masala is being screened there," said Ketan Mehta, who will be present on the occasion in Washington.

Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala to be screened at John F. Kennedy Center

Mirch Masala tells the story of a woman whose husband is away in the city. She spurns the advances of the tax collector, who is known for demanding more than taxes, and flees to a spice factory where an old watchman gives her protection and this polarizes the entire village. The film stars the legendry Smita Patil along with Naseerudin Shah, Om Puri and Deepti Naval.

Speaking further, the director of the film, Ketan Mehta says, "The power of cinema lies in its ability to cut across social barriers. We used the metaphor of Mirch Masala to symbolize the fiery strength of a woman and above all, a human being against all forms of oppression. The film portrays a feisty and fiery woman who defies the established powers to save her dignity against all odds."

Apart from the screening of Mirch Masala, Ketan Mehta will also be a part of a discussion on Indian women in films on 15th March, 2011.