Pune, Aug 20 (UNI) The centenary screening of film legend Charlie Chaplin’s classic The Gold Rush received an enthusiastic response from audiences in Pune and Latur.
The special screenings were jointly organised by the Pune Film Foundation and Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).
According to PIFF Deputy Director Vishal Shinde, screenings will soon be held in Mumbai and Nagpur as well.
The film was showcased at E-Square Multiplex and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in Pune, as well as at PVR Latur. Due to heavy demand, an additional show was arranged at NFAI after the first screening was filled to capacity. Originally released in 1925, the film was presented in a 4K restored version, allowing audiences to relive Chaplin’s masterpiece on the big screen.
Prominent personalities including Amol Palekar, Dr. Jabbar Patel, Satish Alekar, Samar Nakhate, Umesh Kulkarni, Nikhil Mahajan, Ashwini Giri, Sunil Sukthankar, Ranjit Naiknavare and Jasbir Singh attended the special screening in Pune.
Veteran actor Amol Palekar shared, “I first watched ‘The Gold Rush’ when I was around 12 years old, and I loved it even then. Watching it again after so many years has given me the same joy. Chaplin’s films are true treasures.”
Filmmaker Sunil Sukthankar added,” If I were to put up a poster in my home, it would definitely be of Charlie Chaplin. He was pure magic.”
Director Varun Narvekar remarked,”Old black-and-white films are like priceless diamonds. Classics like The Gold Rush must be revisited time and again”.
In Latur, the screening organised with the support of Abhijat Film Society created a festive atmosphere, with the auditorium packed and audiences thoroughly enjoying the experience. Society member Madhusudan (Aditya) Kulkarni said, “Watching films is not just entertainment, but an art. The Gold Rush once again made us fall in love with Chaplin.”
The initiative by Pune Film Foundation and PIFF provided international cinema lovers in Pune and Latur with a world-class film experience.
