Pearl Padamsee Movies
Based on Robinton Mistry's biting epic novel of the same name, this drama recounts the spiritual and physical consequences that result when a decent man allows himself to be convinced to perform an illegal act in the name of patriotism. The story takes place in India, 1971, a time when the country was fighting Pakistan for control of Bangladesh. Middle-aged Parsee Gustad Noble (Roshan Seth) has spent most of his adult life caring for his wife and children. With a sickly daughter and an estranged grown son, Noble feels dissatisfied and bored with his life until he reunites with his estranged friend Jimmy Bilimoria (Naseeruddin Shah), who asks Gustad in a letter to launder money for his cause. Though normally known for his impeccable morals, Gustad agrees to do so, employing the assistance of his dimwitted co-worker Dinshawji (Sam Dastor). This film was shown in the "Special Presentation" category at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. It also received numerous "Genie" awards in its native Canada. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Roshan Seth, Soni Razdan, (more)
- 1996
Based on a novel by Rumer Godden, the two-part British miniseries The Peacock Spring took place in Delhi, India, in 1959. Hattie Moraham starred as Una Gwithin, 15-year-old daughter of the recently appointed U.N. diplomat to the region. Una caused shock waves to ripple throughout what was left of the British empire when she fell in love with a charismatic (and extremely self-absorbed) Indian poet named Ravi Batticharya (Naveen Andrews). Further complicating the story is the curious animosity between Una's father and her Eurasian governess Alix (Jennifer Hall). The Peacock Spring originally aired in 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hattie Moraham, Jennifer Hall, (more)
Vikram (Ashotosh Gowariker) is an Indian immigrant from Bombay who lands in San Francisco. His happiness over his arrival in the United States is diminished when customs officers unexplainably trim his tourist visa from six months to one. When he arrives at the home of his sponsor, he finds that the building is abandoned, and his application to study at the University of California has been rejected. He later meets Sue (Heidi Carpenter), a punk-rock femme who works at a late-night theater specializing in horror films, and Vikram becomes very fond of the woman, proposing marriage in hopes of starting a new life in the United States. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ashutosh Gowariker, Heidi Carpenter, (more)
