Mira Nair film wins at Venice

VENICE, SEPT. 9. Monsoon Wedding, the story of an Indian bride who has second thoughts about her arranged marriage, won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Directed by Ms. Mira Nair, maker of the 1988 Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay, the film is part social documentary, part dramatic comedy, tackling issues such as incest as a Punjabi family reunites from around the world for the wedding. It was the first time India or a woman had won the top prize at the world's oldest film festival.

``I am very pleased for India. We have a very powerful cinema industry, but it is only really known to half the world,'' the 44-year-old director told a news conference. ``Now it is known to the other half as well. This award gives India great pride and great honour.''

Recognised worldwide for provocative movies such as Mississippi Masala and Kamasutra: A Tale of Love, Ms. Nair was described as a ``visionary'' by the head of the jury, Cannes winner, Ms. Nanni Moretti. But she played down the acclaim.

``I just wanted to explore something very personal, about my family and families in general, in a free way,'' she said. ``I didn't expect anything from this film really. I wanted to make a small thing, but I am so very happy to say that it has become big.''

As for being the first female director to win in 58 festivals at Venice, she said, ``I am not one to hold a flag. If we win and we happen to be women, then wonderful.''

Ms. Nair, who was educated in New Delhi and went to the United States on a theatre scholarship to Harvard, said the film was a ``love song to Delhi'' which sought to praise the Punjabi community while examining its dark side.

Long-suppressed revelations of incest in the family mar the build up to the exuberant wedding - but still Ms. Nair said she wanted to show that Punjabi people are just like the Neapolitans in Italy - ``loud, aggressive, individualistic and with a huge appetite for living''.

- Reuters

PTI reports from New Delhi:

The President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, today congratulated Ms. Nair for winning the prestigious award. In a message, the President said, ``Ms. Mira Nair's achievement is a matter of great pleasure for every Indian and an honour for the Indian film industry. I congratulate Ms. Nair and her team for winning this coveted award and wish her many more laurels ahead.''

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, said ``such an award bears ample testimony to the fact that Indian cinema is second to none in the world''. He hoped Ms. Nair's achievement would spur Indian cinema to achieve still greater heights.

In another message, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ms. Sushma Swaraj, described Ms. Nair ``as one of our best creative directors''. She said the award was a tribute to Indian cinema and would give a big boost to the film industry.

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