By Mark Ambrogi
Neelu Sondhi was well-known in the Heartland Film Festival circle as a frequent filmgoer.
“I go to every movie I can see. I’ve been a Heartland junkie forever,” she said.
So naturally when the organizers were looking for someone to coordinate Cultural Journey: India, they turned to her.
As chair of Cultural Journey, Sondhi has helped coordinate all the events for the Aug. 17 to 20 festival, including seven films. The films will be shown at the Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis.
“This has been the most fun thing for me to do. I want to show my Indiana community, since I’ve been here 30 years, part of India,” Sondhi said. “Maybe a film will spark a conversation. There are so many things I want them to see. I hope it’s a 60-40 percentage, 60 (percent) Americans and 40 Indians.”
Heartland Film Festival President Craig Prater said India was selected for the inaugural Cultural Journey event because film production is a big part of the culture there.
“We asked Neelu to get involved for two reasons. One, she is connected to the Indian community, and also she could help us verify the culture and traditions of India,” said Prater, whose Heartland Film Festival is set for Oct. 12 to 22. “We wanted it to be true to the culture and at the same time be authentic and not (have an) American slant to it. We knew Neelu could help us with the authentic positioning of the film and be true to the culture. She’s been a great advisor and consultant for us regarding India traditions.”
This is the first of what is planned to become an annual Cultural Journey with a new nation represented each year.
Sondhi said Michael Ault, Heartland vice president of development, asked her to come see a few Indian movies during Heartland in October 2016 and bring a few friends.
“So I took about 20 people,” Sondhi said. “Then he told me about this event and said would I chair this. I said, ‘Wait a minute, I just came to see the film. I wasn’t going to do this.’ But it’s been a great experience. It’s been a good journey.”
Sondhi describes the volunteer role as a full-time, non-paid vocation.
“But I am having the most fun of my life,” Sondhi said. “I would come up with an idea, and they ran with everything I’d say. They’ve been good about doing exactly what I want.”
Sondhi, who grew up in India, moved to Indiana when her husband, Dr. Naval Sondhi, went to Indiana University for a fellowship in pediatric opthalmology. Naval is now an administrator for IU Health. They have lived in Carmel for 32 years. Sondhi has watched the Indian population grow steadily.
Getting involved is not new to Sondhi. She served on the board of WFYI and Families First, among other volunteer roles. She was involved in her children’s schools, Park Tudor High School and Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School.
Her children are now grown. Neil, 31, is a 2004 Brebeuf Jesuit graduate, and Ryan, 28, is a 2007 Park Tudor graduate.
Sondhi said she wanted the four days to show a variety of films.
“There were a couple of things I didn’t want,” Sondhi said. “I didn’t want them to show India in a negative light. I wanted it to be more positive and uplifting. They were very cognizant and asked what I thought about certain issues. Just because with ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ there was a lot of negative press (showing poverty in India). I thought this is not the time. For these four days, I want to show color and culture and the other stuff about India. They have picked great films.”
Opening splash
For Cultural Journey chair Neelu Sondhi, the opening night extravaganza is an appropriate description for the Aug. 17 event.
“The first night will be a Bollywood-style party with Bollywood dancers,” Sondhi said. “There will be music, a DJ and Indian food, and then we’ll see a Bollywood-style movie.”
At the Aug. 18 gala there will be dance performers from Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, along with other dance companies.
“There will be four or five different dance forms,” Sondhi said.
Seven films will be shown in the four days, all at the Indiana Historical Society.
“A lot of the films are highly acclaimed, and I think they’ll be great to watch and see the different genre of Indian films,” Sondhi said. “It’s not just Bollywood. There are all kinds of Indian films. At the events, they’ll get to see Indian dance forms and Indian music. There is something for everyone.”
One of the Cultural Journey special guests will be Neeta Bhushan, India’s consul general. On the closing night, she will be part of the ceremony to announce the 2018 Cultural Journey with the consul general of the yet-to-be-announced featured nation.
The Cultural Journey: India schedule
(Screenings are at Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis)
Aug. 17
6:30 to 10:15 p.m.: Opening Night Extravaganza and “You Are My Sunday” screening.
Aug. 18
1 to 3 p.m.: “Siddharth” screening.
6:30 to 10:30 p.m.: Traditional Indian Gala and “Ventilator” screening.
Aug. 19
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Live Adventurously on the Cultural Trail and “Doctor Rakhmabai” screening.
6:30 to 11 p.m.: “A Suitable Girl” screening with directors Sarita Khurana & Smrita Mundhra.
Aug. 20
10 am to 2:30 p.m.: India Day on Monument Circle
1 to 3 p.m.: “A Billion Colour Story” screening
4 to 5:45 p.m.: “Hotel Salvation” closing night screening.
Purchase tickets and learn more at heartlandfilm.org/culturaljourney.
