Jugni Style Fêtes Indian Filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor

Not ones to give up the opportunity for a party, we recently celebrated Indian director Nagesh Kukunoor’s film journey with a bit of fun, food and lots of drink in Vancouver.

Jugni Style and Indian Summer Arts Society hosted a private dinner for Nagesh Kukunoor, whose film Lakshmi screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival in October. The film looks at child abduction and human trafficking in India, and is inspired by a true story.

Arts and culture types gathered over chaat and South Indian snacks, and discussed everything from where to find the best Hyderbadi biryani in Vancouver (nowhere, it’s impossible to find) to the impact of social activist films in India and elsewhere. Nagesh Kukunoor chatted about his filmmaking journey and shared that his favourite film is still his debut, Hyderabad Blues.

Spotted sipping on wine and soda with Nagesh: Canadian filmmakers Vic Sarin, Nimisha Mukerji, and Mark Ratzlaff; authors Anosh Irani and Ameen Merchant; Vancouver International Film Festival director Prem Gill; Indian Summer Festival artistic director Sirish Rao, managing director Laura Byspalko, and board director Mandeep Dhaliwal; Indian Consul General Ravi Aisola and poet Priti Aisola; Georgia Straight editor Charlie Smith; OMNI News reporter Tarannum Thind; BC film aficionados Anil Patade and Kamal Sharma; Dave Ratnarajah from Creative BC; curator Naveen Girn; playwright and actor Anoushka Ratnarajah and her lovely family; and Jugni Style’s editorial director Manjot Bains.

See photos from the dinner below:

Read our interview with Nagesh Kukunoor.

Photography: Jugni Style and Anil Patade