Special Guests: M.R. Prahast, the music director of SUNDAY SPECIAL, is scheduled to attend this screening to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A. The moderator will be Stephen Burns, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Fulcrum Point New Music Project in Chicago.
Sunday Special (Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa)
A young girl tries to defy traditions with chicken curry in this gentle satire
India | Comedy-Drama | 2024 | 91 minutes
In Kannada w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Abhilash Shetty
Starring: Prabhakar Kunder, Radha Ramachandra, Samrudhi Kundapura
Film Source: Plan A Films
SYNOPSIS:
On the day of Gandhi Jayanti, when meat sale is prohibited nationwide, an 11-year-old girl goes on a quirky adventure in pursuit of a forbidden chicken curry.
While Abhilash Shetty’s comedy-drama can charm audiences as a family-friendly film about a young girl’s quest for a seemingly simple dish, the film is also a subtle satire that gently exposes hypocrisy on issues surrounding tradition, law and commerce in contemporary India. More than simply questioning the need for tradition, it asks whether stubbornly sticking to old ways makes sense when they so often contradict with the realities of modern life.
Abhilash Shettyis, Director
Abhilash Shettyis a film director, screenwriter, and actor who was born and raised in Karnataka, India. He is a self-taught filmmaker who quit his corporate job to pursue his filmmaking dreams. He started his filmmaking career by making short films. Shetty gained international recognition when he wrote and directed his debut feature Koli Taal (2021) which won him rave reviews and nominated at the International film festivals. His latest film is Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa (2024). He did his schooling in a boarding school called Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Shimoga. After graduating, he worked as a financial analyst for two years at Capgemini in Bengaluru, and then he quits his job to pursue his filmmaking dreams.
M.R. Prahast, Music Director
M.R. Prahast is an accomplished music composer based in Tallahassee, Florida, with a primary focus on pop music and a passion for crafting background scores for films. His musical style is deeply inspired by 80s pop, which influences the sound and feel of his songs. He has collaborated with celebrated Indian and German singers, and his work can be found on Spotify under his name. Additionally, he has worked with film director Abhilash Shetty on his first film, Koli Taal, as well as Sunday Special. Prahast strives to bring a unique blend of nostalgia and modern vibes to every track he produces.
Stephen Burns, Guest Moderator for Post-Film Q&A
Conductor, composer and trumpeter Stephen Burns is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Fulcrum Point New Music Project in Chicago. He has been acclaimed on five continents for his virtuosity and interpretative depth in recitals, orchestral appearances, chamber music, and multi-media performances. He has worked closely with composers John Corigliano, Osvaldo Golijov, Gunther Schuller, Jacob TV, and La Monte Young. In 2003 he was a founder and the firstpresident of New Music Chicago for which he co-curated Sonic Impact 2008 and The Ear Taxi Festival 2016. Native to Wellesley, Massachusetts, Mr. Burns studied under Carmine Caruso, Armando Ghitalla, Arnold Jacobs, Vincent Penzarella, Gerard Schwarz, Pierre Thibaud, William Vacchiano, and Roger Voisin at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Julliard School, and post-graduate work in Paris and Chicago. He has won the Juilliard School Concerto Competition, the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the NEARecital Grant, the Naumburg Award, the Charles Colin Award, the Meier Arts Achievement Award, and the Maurice André Concours International de Paris. Mr. Burns is on faculty at DePaul University’s School of Music, The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, and the Center for Advanced Musical Training at Chosen Vale. A former tenured Professor of Music at Indiana University, a certified teacher in The Art of Practicing and Performing Beyond Fear, Prof. Burns is a Visiting Lecturer with Amici della Musica in Florence, Italy. CDs at Naxos, MHS, Dorian, Delos, Essay, Kleos, & Innova. Stephen Burns is a Yamaha performing artist.
Screening Date:
Sunday, March 29, 2025
Showtime:
5:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
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