Prabhudheva-starrer to have its world premiere in Los Angeles

Los Angeles March 28 (IANS) Prabhudheva-starrer "Mercury" will have its world premiere at The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) next month. A masterclass with "The Big Bang Theory" star Kunal Nayyar will also be held at the fest.

The 16th edition of the annual festival will take place between April 11-15 here.

Best known for his role as Rajesh Koothrappali on "The Big Bang Theory" Nayyar s career has spanned television features and the stage. He is also known for doing voice work in the animated feature films "Trolls" and "Ice Age: Continental Drift".

Nayyar will discuss his career beginnings his path to stardom on American television s popular comedy and to advise the next generation of artistes on how to gain a foothold in a competitive industry.

The masterclass will be presented with support from the India Center Foundation and will take place on April 12.

Director Karthik Subbaraj s forthcoming silent thriller "Mercury" focuses on five long-time friends all of whom are maimed as a result of their town s mercury poisoning who come together for their high school reunion. But a moment of mischief and misfortune during the after-party puts them on a one-way road to hell.

"Mercury" will be screened on April 12.

An impressive panel of jurors will preside over IFFLA s features and shorts competitions.

The features jury will include director Haifaa Al-Mansour film critic Carlos Aguilar and actress Sujata Day.

The shorts jury will include religious scholar and writer Reza Aslan and director Aneesh Chaganty and screenwriter Guinevere Turner.

The fest s full line-up will include opening night gala film "In the Shadows" with Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee in attendance closing night gala "Village Rockstars" directed by Rima Das Hansal Mehta s "Omerta" with the director in attendance Naseeruddin Shah-starrer "The Hungry" and a memorial tribute screening of the late star Sridevi s 1989 hit "Chandni".

--IANS
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