The opening night of this year’s Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles features the debut film of leading JPL scientist-turned film maker, Bedabrata Pain. Chittagong, named for Bangladesh’s second-largest city, is the 1930 colonial era story of how a group of youth launched the first successful military action against the British occupation of India. The little known series of events, known as the Great Chittagong Uprising of 1930, has now been dramatized on screen, depicting the lives of the young revolutionaries, including the teenager and youngest member of the group, 14 year old Subodh “Jhunku” Roy and his teacher and mentor, Masterda Surya Sen, who led the uprising. First time director Bedabrata Pain, who also produced and co-wrote the film, hopes to increase awareness of the historical anti-colonial uprising which came within two decades of the 1947 British withdrawal of India. Dr. Pain is a highly decorated, award winning scientist, and one of the inventors of a digital imaging technology that enables the kinds of cameras used in everything from space telescopes to cell phones. His film Chittagong premieres this Tuesday at the opening night gala of the 10th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood.

On Monday April 9th 2012, Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar interviewed Bedabrata Pain about Chittagong.

Watch a video of the interview here:

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) opens this Tuesday April 10th and goes through April 15th, showcasing as part of its 10th anniversary celebration, 33 features, documentaries, and short films from filmmakers throughout the world including Canada, Italy, India, Germany, South Africa, UK, and the U.S.

Find out more about the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and buy tickets at www.indianfilmfestival.org. Visit www.chittagongthefilm.com for more information about the film.

Martina Steiner recorded this interview.