The magic of Yash Chopra seems to have cast an enduring spell on the UK! Channel 4, one of the UK’s most popular and acclaimed channels, and second only to the BBC in popular perception, is paying tribute to Yash Chopra through a film festival specially created in his honour. Starting Monday 10th September, and continuing right up to the 6th of November, and entitled ‘The World of Yash Chopra’, the festival will air on Mondays on Channel 4. Each of the the movies will have a special introduction either by Yash Chopra or the director and star of the movie. No other Indian filmmaker till date has had a festival of such extended length devoted to him or her on one of the most important TV channels in the UK.
Included in the festival will be films both directed by Yash Chopra or produced under the banner of Yash Raj films. The festival aims to introduce a wide section of British television audiences to the more contemporary films of Yash Raj films, as well as the latter day hits directed by Yash Chopra. The films directed by the auteur which will be a part of the festival include his latest magnum opus ‘Veer Zaara’ in addition to ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Darr’ and ‘Lamhe’. Also part of the festival are the latest Yash Raj Films blockbusters ‘Dhoom’, ‘Hum Tum’ and ‘Bunty Aur Babli’. The festival wraps up with the Aditya Chopra directed ‘Mohabbatein’ on November 6th.
Coming closely on the heels of Yash Chopra being awarded the membership of BAFTA, this is yet another indication that Hindi movies in general, and Yash Chopra movies in particular, have begun to reach out to a very wide community of British viewers, more than just Indians residing there. Reacting to the news, Mr. Chopra said , ” I am truly grateful for this honour. It has always been my belief that at Yash Raj Films we make movies for the entire world, and this special festival simply reaffirms this belief”
The World of Yash Chopra 1. Monday 10th September Introduction by Yash Chopra VEER ZAARA - duration 184′ 42″ 2. Monday 25th September Introduction by Shaad Ali BUNTY AUR BABLI - duration 163′ 20″ 3. Monday 2nd October Introduction by Yash Chopra & Uday Chopra LAMHE - duration 179′ 18″ 4. Monday 9th October Introduction by Sanjay Gadhvi & Uday Chopra DHOOM - duration 123′ 37″ 5. Monday 16th October Introduction by Yash Chopra DARR - duration168′ 52″ 6. Monday 23rd October Introduction by Kunal Kohli HUM TUM - duration 136′ 25″ 7. Monday 30th October Introduction by Yash Chopra DIL TO PAGAL HAI - duration 178′ 72″ 8. Monday 6th November Introduction by Yash Chopra MOHABBATEIN - duration 215′ 14″