Badnam Basti

15

Prem Kapoor’s film skilfully navigates the turbulent conditions under which it was made, subtly incorporating bisexuality in such a way that it bypassed India’s strict cultural censorship.

It's the story of the interlocking relationship between truck driver and ex-bandit Sarnam (Nitin Sethi), Bansari (Nandiat Thakur), a beautiful woman Sarnam saved from being raped, and Shivraj (Amar Kakkad), who works in a temple and is later hired by Sarnam.

Adapted from Kamleshwar Prasad Saxena’s 1957 novel, the movie's transgressive approach was a direct reaction to wider political turmoil. It remains an emblem of Parallel Cinema, focusing on then-unconventional representations and relationships with a keen eye.

The film was thought lost for many years but was accidentally rediscovered in 2019 in the archive of Berlin’s Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art. It’s now presented by Arsenal in an unvarnished digital transfer ahead of a full digital restoration, which is being supervised by Kapoor’s son Hariom.

This screening will begin with a short pre-recorded introduction by writer and film curator Dr Omar Ahmed. 

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Screening as part of the Cinema Rediscovered on Tour.

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