Manto (Opening Night)

Running time: 112 mins

Cinequest opens in high fashion as the glorious Nandita Das presents her sweeping biopic, Manto At the dawn of India's independence, an air of optimism sweeps the country. Yet the euphoria flees when the country faces turmoil, violence, and fear of their quickly changing world. A horrified Manto bears witness to the upheaval in his homeland and channels his emotions into writing a transformation of that inner turmoil. Unbelievably, he finds himself on trial for obscenity--a trial wherein the very definition of art and artistic responsibility is challenged. The narrative seamlessly intersperses five of Manto's poignant stories. The last one being his most famous story - Toba Tek Singh which begins: "Two or three years after Partition, it occurred to the governments of India and Pakistan to exchange their lunatics like they had exchanged their criminals...." Starring the captivating Nawazuddin Siddiqui (The Lunchbox) as Manto and written and directed by Nandita Das, Manto immerses us into the life and times of one of the world's most important and uncompromising writers. Screening will include a conversation with Nandita Das, Award presentation, the mighty Wurlitzer organ, plus surprise entertainment.