Reviving a Masterpiece: Ghatashraddha Returns to Venice

The restored version of Girish Kasaravalli's film 'Ghatashraddha,' originally made in 1977, will be showcased at the Venice International Film Festival. Kasaravalli, who has won 14 National Awards, looks forward to seeing modern audience reactions. Restoration was done by the Film Heritage Foundation and World Cinema Project.

The restored version of legendary filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli's 'Ghatashraddha' will be showcased in the Venice Classics section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival, slated to take place from August 28 to September 7.

Kasaravalli expressed his anticipation to PTI, saying he is eager to gauge the relevance of the film for today's audience. 'This was made in 1977. I have changed a lot since 'Ghatashraddha' (The Ritual), so I am curious to know what the audience thinks of it now,' said the Bengaluru-based filmmaker who has bagged 14 National Awards. He confirmed his attendance at the festival in Venice.

'Also, I will be watching the film for the first time after it was restored by the Film Heritage Foundation. I do not own great prints of any of my films. The ones I have, have been exposed to a bit of wear and tear. Dust and scratches affect the quality of the print, after all. So, I am curious to see the restored version,' he added.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the founder-director of Film Heritage Foundation, collaborated with Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project to restore 'Ghatashraddha.' The restoration, carried out at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy, is regarded as one of the world's premier restoration labs.

According to a press statement from the 81st Venice International Film Festival, 'Ghatashraddha' is one of 18 films restored last year, all of which will premiere at the festival.

Alberto Barbera, Artistic Director of the Festival, noted, 'It is possible that the name of Girish Kasaravalli is not very well known in Italy, even though he was one of the founders of the Parallel Cinema movement, inspired by the principles of Italian Neorealism. His debut film, 'Ghatashraddha,' earned him immediate renown and three of the most important awards in Indian cinema that year (1977).

The classics section will see a jury chaired by director and screenwriter Renato De Maria, with 24 film students from various Italian universities, who will award the Venice Classics prizes for Best Restored Film and Best Documentary About Cinema.

Since 2012, Venice Classics has curated a selection of the best restorations of film classics at the Venice Film Festival.

(With inputs from agencies.)