07 December,2009 04:18 PM IST | | PTI
Ketan Mehta's much-delayed film 'Rang Rasiya' (Colours of Passion), on the life of renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma, is being readied for release in India early next year. The film, directed by Ketan Mehta and starring Randeep Hooda and Nandana Sen, traces Varma's journey as the leading painter of his time, his relationship with his muse and his trial on charges of obscenity. 'Rang Rasiya' inaugurated the 'River to River' Film Festival in Florence, Italy on December 4. "The film was screened at Odeon, a landmark theatre in the heart of the city. The organisers were so impressed with the film that they preceded the screening with an exhibition curated by Giovanni Aprile on Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906)," Deepa Sahi Mehta, the director's actress-wife said. The film has earlier been screened at the London Film festival, the New York Film Festival, a festival at Oslo and Sri Lanka. The film inaugurated the festival in the presence of the Indian Ambassador to Italy and the Mayor of Florence in front of a packed house, she said. The film got a standing ovation for its cinematic beauty, technical excellence and bold theme, Deepa said.
