'Colours of Passion' by Ketan Mehta at LFF08

'Colours of Passion' (Rang Rasiya 2008), directed by Ketan Mehta and  based on a classic Indian novel ‘Raja Ravi Varma,’ will have its world premiere at the London Film Festival, 2008.  This is after a long time that audiences will be able to see a Ketan Mehta film. 'Colours Of Passion' has taken more than usual time in production. The film will remind Indians of an on going controversy involving India's best known living painter MF Husain who has been made a target by extremist Hindus in India.

'Colours Of Passion' 2008 by Ketan Mehta'Colours of Passion' is the tale of the life and times of the great and often controversial, Indian painter, Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906).  It deals with religious intolerance and denial of freedom of expression by fundamentalists and hardliners – sadly a fact even today.  

The famous artist Raja Ravi Varma is arrested and charged with obscenity, immorality and hurting religious sentiments of the people. His offence – painting nudes of Indian mythological characters, and so begins a court case.  

Woven with the case is the classic love story of the artist and his muse – Sugandha. Together they create the most amazing works of art. Her beauty inspires him to create exquisite paintings based on themes from Indian mythology and classic literature. She becomes his muse, his inspiration…his love.  

'Colours of Passion' showcases the talents of Randeep Hooda as Raja Ravi Varma, and Nandana Sen as his muse. Other Bollywood character actors in the film include, Tom Alter, Rajat Kapoor and Paresh Rawal.  

“Both strikingly beautiful and audacious, Ketan Mehta’s homage offers not only a spectacular insight into a turning point in Indian history, but also questions the freedom of the artist in cotemporary society. Not to be missed,” says London Film Festival brochure 2008.

The film is produced by Deepa Sahi & Aanand Mahendroo and made by Maya Movies Pvt Ltd /Infinity Filmed Entertainment India.  

Infinity is a Film Production and Completion Guarantee Company that takes strategic co-production stakes in third party film content, as well as produces its own film projects.

Infinity, promoted by Aanand Mahendroo and Mehool Parekh, claims to be India’s first and only indigenous completion guarantee provider, and the only one in Asia to have an independent underwriting and re-insurance arrangement.  

In a press note Infinity says "Led by a combination of creative talent and financial and risk management professionals, Infinity understands the Indian film industry and have developed services which enable the Indian film maker to deliver feature films at the right cost, right time and of the right quality to the largest film market in the world."

Having already completed one film (Rang Rasiya aka Colours of Passion) as co-producer and with three projects in production as well as five in development, Infinity also has several co-productions in hand.