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JAG MUNDHRA'S "PROVOKED" STARRING AISHWARYA RAI TO OPEN 5TH INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES Festival to close with Rajnesh Domalpalli's "VANAJA" And to pay Tribute to acclaimed artist DEEPTI NAVAL

March 21, 2007 (Los Angeles, CA) – Jag Mundhra’s powerful provocative drama PROVOKED starring Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Miranda Richardson and Nandita Das will open the 5th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) on Tuesday, April 17, at the ArcLight Hollywood, with a red carpet event, was announced today by the Festival’s Director, Christina Marouda. The six-day festival will close on Sunday, April 22 with Rajnesh Domalpalli’s VANAJA, Best Debut Feature winner at the Berlin International Film Festival. This year, the festival will also honor acclaimed actress, poet, painter and writer DEEPTI NAVAL.

“It is really exciting to celebrate our 5th anniversary with the LA Premieres of such important films like PROVOKED and VANAJA. Last year we opened with Deepa Mehta’s WATER and we can truly say that Indian cinema is growing in popularity and is here to stay. Our festival showcases the best of Indian cinema and launching the careers of new Indian filmmakers while celebrating the careers of those that have contributed to the success of Indian cinema,” Marouda said in making this announcement.

Based on a true story, Jag Mundhra’s English language film, PROVOKED stars Aishwarya Rai (“Bride and Prejudice”) as a battered Punjabi wife who is sentenced to life for murdering her alcoholic abusive husband and is later pardoned by the English courts by an unprecedented appeal that redefined the laws of “Provocation” in future battered spouse legal cases. The film also has an all star Indian and British cast including Academy Award nominee Miranda Richardson (“Tom and Viv”), Naveen Andrews (“Lost,” “Grindhouse”), Nandita Das (“Fire,” “Earth”), Rebecca Pidgeon (“The Unit,” “Shop Girl”) and Robbie Coltrane (“Harry Potter,” “Ocean’s Twelve”).

Written by Carl Austin and Rahila Gupta, based on the book “Circle of Light” by Rahila Gupta and Kiranjit Ahluwalia, PROVOKED is produced by Sunanda Murali Manohar and directed by Jag Mundhra and will be released in the US by Eros Entertainment in May. Columbia University graduate Rajnesh Domalpalli’s Telugu feature VANAJA, will close the festival’s program on Sunday, April 22. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and most recently received the Berlin International Film Festival’s Best Debut Feature Award. VANAJA stars newcomers Mamatha Bhukiya, Urmila Dammannagari, Ramachandriah Marikanti.

Set in the rural South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where social barriers are built stronger than fort walls, VANAJA explores the chasm that divides classes as a young girl struggles to come of age and secure her destiny as a classical dancer. Emerging Pictures will be releasing the film in the US this summer.

IFFLA 2007 will once again offer a lavish Indian celebration of entertainment and culture during opening night at Hollywood’s Ivar. At Opening Night Gala, entertainment will include a DJ set by The Bombay Dub Orchestra (www.bombaydub.com) from producer Garry Hughes and composer Andrew T Mackay that fuses electronica, ambient, Indian and Western classical and other sounds from around the globe; along with The Taal Dance Company (www.taaldance.com), an ethnically diverse dance collective renowned for mixing progressive style with classical Indian choreography. The Closing Night Gala will take place at the Hollywood & Highland complex at Level 3 and will feature the musical talents of innovative producer DJ Tej Gill (www.gillometermusic.com) and DJ turntable artist performing an eclectic set.

This year The Hollywood Reporter is the Media Sponsor of the Festival’s Tribute to DEEPTI NAVAL, an accomplished actress, writer, poet, and nature photographer extraordinaire. She has received widespread acclaim for the variety and complexity of her roles spanning nearly 30-years. Her artistic accolades do not end there: she is widely regarded as one of the most influential personalities of her times for her contribution to the Indian creative arts. Three films of her most-finest performances, KAMLA, PANCHVATI and MIRCH MASALA will be screened as part of the festival’s tribute program. The Tribute will be moderated by The Hollywood Reporter’s film critic Kirk Honeycutt.

Educated at the City University of New York, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at Hunter College in Manhattan. Naval made her acting debut in the film EK BAAR PHIR in 1979 and has acted in more than 60 films since. Over the years she has received much critical acclaim for her roles in CHASHME BUDDOOR, KAMLA, MIRCH MASALA, LEELA and FREAKY CHAKRA. She also wrote and directed “Thodasa Aasmaan,” a TV series about women.

Author of several poetry books, including “Lamha Lamha”, “Black Winds and Other Poems” and “River Poems,” which is based on her experience trekking through Zanskar Valley in Ladakh, Himalayans. Her passion for photography stems from her extensive adventure travels. A skilled mountaineer, Naval navigated the treacherous mountain terrain of Ladakh alone in 2004; the experience grew to be one of the most pivotal of her life. Her collection of photographs of Ladakh, entitled ‘In Search of Another Sky’, has received widespread recognition for its astonishing grace and the depth of the landscapes portrayed.

IFFLA 2007 is sponsored by Time Warner, Sony, Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo, Deuxe Labs, Nickelodeon, Chakra Cuisine, Masala Bowl, Deluxe Labs, FilmworksFX, Prime Focus, Raskin Peter Rubin & Simon (RPRS), Showbiz Software, Wells Fargo Bank, Yogitimes, Baseline/Filmtracker, Inc., SIVOO/Broad Relay, TiE-SC, Pliq, KLCS/TV DT, India Journal, KPFK, LA 18, LA Weekly, Sahara Filmy, Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter, Rasa Music, amongst many others.

IFFLA is also supported in part by grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

The lineup will be announced on March 26, 2007. Tickets go on sale on March 22 at ArcLight Hollywood’s box office located a 6360 W. Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, and online at www.arclightcinemas.com

For more information on IFFLA please go to www.indianfilmfestival.org.

IFFLA 2007 runs April 17-22, presented by the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles established in 2002 as a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting a greater appreciation of Indian culture by showcasing a selection of films from or about India by Indian and international filmmakers as well as films that reflect diverse perspectives of the Indian Diaspora. In addition, IFFLA continues to spotlight works by Indian filmmakers that cross boundaries to tell compelling stories of a global perspective.

About ArcLight Cinemas

ArcLight Cinemas, created by Pacific Theatres, represents and an evolution in the movie going experience. The beautifully designed flagship facility in Hollywood, which opened in March 2002, offers an unprecedented combination of technology, amenities, comfort, and customer service. Facilities include the historic Cinerama Dome and 14 state-of-the-art "black box" auditoriums as well as a café bar and a cinema-focused gift shop. Tickets can be purchased online without a fee and printed at home, at the theaters automated ticketing kiosks, lobby box office and over the phone. Plus, ArcLight offers a free membership program with purchasing rewards and other members-only benefits. ArcLight Hollywood is located at 6360 W. Sunset Boulevard, between Vine and Ivar. For more information about ArcLight, visit www.arclightcinemas.com.