We’ve been getting a lot of mail asking about DVD’s of English, August and Split Wide Open. I agree it’s been a long wait but hopefully not too long.
I just got a sample of the DVD’s for approval. I’m hoping that these should be out soon. I’ll be posting a technical note on these in the future as a lot has gone into making them.
18 years later English, August will be finally published in North America by New York Review Books in 2006. We are looking to release the DVD (NTSC and region free) sometime then on Amazon, Netflix and soon as a download as well.
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Wonder what will north americans think about english, august! And thanx for finally approving the DVD (i hope you did), ill be waiting eagerly for its launch.
Do call me to the launch party, if there is going to be one..
Saurabh
Saurabh, The sound track of English, August is being remastered currently. I’m hoping this will be ready soon. The negative of English, August was damaged due to poor storage by the leading laboratory in Madras- Prasad Film Labs. I had to have it restored and the DVD was mastered from the original negative. This was supervised by one of the original cinematographers of the film Jogendra “Jean-Luc” Panda. It’s been a labour of love and it feels really great to be able to hold a copy of the film after all these years!
I saw Split Wide Open on Star Movies on my recent trip to India. I have tried to find the DVD but I just cant seem to find it anyways. If ya ever launch the DVD for both English August and SWO please let me know.
Hi Dev – have been waiting to see English August for more that 10 years now. I saw it when it was released and it was incredible. Needless to say – I am a big fan. Cant wait to buy the DVD. Please let me know ehen it is available. Keep up the great work.
Hey Dev,
It sounds ridiculous that Madras- Prasad Film Labs has screwed up on the storage.I mean they could not preserve it for just 10 yrs.Ha
Anyways congrats to you man.Nice piece of work. Some of the dialogues have stayed on with me over the years.
Hope to get a personal copy soon.
Kartik
New Jersey
Kartik, the story gets even better with three documentaries I made on Indian textile masters. I called Prasad Labs a year ago with the idea of getting a DVD made. After six months they returned my call saying the 35mm negatives were damaged beyond repair. When they tried to touch the negative it would crumble to dust!!
I have ONE well worn print of these films and a poor quality DVD is screening in New Delhi at the National Museum in an excellent exhibition called TAPI which runs till January 15, 2006.
Wow
I have been eagerly waiting for this DVD to release. I remember seeing this movie in Eros cinema almost like 10 yrs ago and I remember most of it. The movie was such a rage at that time, and we always had funny discussions among friends. I definitely want to relive those experiences by watching the movie again. Great work Dev
!
Kunsjoi, I’m looking forward to the DVD myself!! Dev
Sir,
i am an ardent fam of all your films, especially English, August. I had first watched it on T.V. way beck in mid-90s and have eversince been on a look out for a copy of the same. Each and every character of the film has taken a permanent place in my mind. The film has left an everlasting impact on me, so much so, that i read the novel atleast thrice and continue to flip through it fondly, as an when i feel like taking a walk in MADNA with AGASTYA or simply confining myself at peace in the company of DADRU, in the circuit house room, thinking about the obscure painting on a wall. I have always wanted to tell you, how well you made the film, that has become a part of my life. I’d be only too pleased to have a copy of the same into cherishing such a chef-d’oeuvre my whole life.
Eagerly awaiting its release.
Dev, I got to say that English, August has been on my favorite movies till date. Unfortunately, my wife has never seen the movie and we are eagerly waiting for the DVD release. I guess its about time that she views the source of the our fav’ line – “Hajaar F@#$%”
I would really appreciate if you can give us a ball park date for the release. Also has the DVD beeb released in India?
V
Vishal, the DVD has never been released in India. I’m looking forward to it as well. Hope your wife likes the movie. I’ve only seen it in a hall with many people and never in small or intimate screenings. It’ll be interesting to see whether it can hold it’s own
Hi,
I had read the novel many times in the last 3 years. Was eager to watch the movie, searched for the DVD in many places without luck. Now I know why. Really looking forward to the DVD release,
Regards,
Som Nath
Watched both the DVD’s over the weekend. Watching English, August brought back some great memories got I also have to admit that it’s still a breath of fresh air after all these years.
A big thanks to everyone who worked on getting the DVD out.
G’day Dev
great that your doing this blog.
Just got back from india & tried in vain to find both your movies on DVD, having seen them their on screen years ago.
‘English August’ was the start but ‘split wide open’ was , to me, a revelation in indian cinema.(Also Mr Bose IS good when he’s good).
An important theme, enabling urban india to look at itself, shot in a sharp, contemporary way. (‘page three’, a weak movie, nicked the story line, no? ...)
Having enjoyed ‘bandit queen’ & a few others plus all those made by the 2 brilliant ladies from canada, it gave me hope for a new wave of non bollywood cinema.(not realy the art & craft of cinematography to my mind).
Shame we’ve had to wait so long for both your next project & the dvd releases.
As i’m sure you’re aware there are many english lang books coming out of india now , but did you ever come across ‘river of gods’ by ian mcdonald? It struck me as asking to be made into a kind of indian ‘blade runner’, but also has a an obvious take on present day india within it.Anyway just a rambling thought, what ever does come next is eagerly awaited.
Any films out at the moment that you could recomend(I missed ‘Being Cyrus’ . They dont have to be in english)
Give us a shout when the DVD’s happen & how to order from the UK.Good luck
Cheers jake
Hi Dev,
Just got to know why i hav’nt been able to get my hands on the DVD/VCD/VHS of English August. I have been looking around for quite a few years. I’m an ardent fan of the book and all its characters.I did manage to catch a portion of the movie on television arpund 8 years back but i would be extremely eager to get my hands on the DVD.
Hoping for the release at the earliest.
Regards,
Siddharth
Hi,
Could somebody tell me where I can order the DVD “English Auguest” from? I live in Bangalore. Is there any way I can buy it here in the city?
Hi Dev,
Could you please provide us with an update on the progress of English August DVD release?
Where and when can we get hold of them??
I am a big fan of English August and want to add this film to my collection,
Please let me know. I live in Sydney and would love to meet you if you ever come this way. Would you please let me know, thanks,
Aman
Hi, any updates on the DVD? When do we finally get to lay our hands on it? What’s the ETA?
You might want to post an update on the main thread so people could know that work is in progress [Aadmi kaam pe hain :)]
Regards,
Manik
hi,
can any one provide any estimate as to when the vcd/dvd of English August would be made available.
i am desperate to watch to the ever since i read the book 4yrs back.
hi dev just a simple thing.. I m getting hazaar f@#^* in wait of the dvd of english august.. just tell me when it gonna be released
Hey Guys,
In another post I mentioned Spetember 2006. The tech team has delivered the DVD and now it’s tyhe guys who handle distribution and the selling stuff who are onto it.
I’ll post the links the moment I get them.
Thanks Dev,
I watched this movie while I was in delhi uni and just finished reading the book again after 10 good years(even though I have moved to australia ever since) and its all back in my mind , as fresh as I watched it first time. Cant wait to here rahul bose explain the meaning of agastya to anyone and everyone.
Thinking of moving back to india and reliving the madna in every sense of the word.
Cheers
i have not seen the movie and i am lookin all over for its dvd or vcd…..just inform us all when ull gonno launch it in india…thanks
hi
a good movie in all
test
Wwaiing for Godot…come september!
i am so waiting for the DVD of english august
Hai..can you send me an e-mail when the DVD is released. I am in US and would like to buy for my personal collection.
thanks
hey dev
it’s september…when is the dvd launch..will it be available in stores?
Finally got hold of the movie in amazon ..too good.
OK, I’ve read the book and now I’m even more anxiously awaiting the release. When????
Dear Dev,
Please add me to the list of folks waiting ardently for the DVD/VCD release of English August. I just got done reading the book and can’t wait to watch the movie.
Actually went all over twon to all music/movie stores to get the same before being told that it isn’t in print yet.
Absolutely waiting..
Aditi
are you planning to direct any new stuff….chatterjee’s weight loss sounds ‘hazaar fucked’, not planning on reading it for some time, and several indian authors are more interesting now that the goofy american writers….any scripts on the way for you!!
Hi Dev
I teach film and media at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and have taught English, August a few times from a video copy of a version that was screened on Channel 4 in the UK during their Filmi Fundas season. However, new copyright nervousness in the academy has meant that anything dubbed off a foreign television network cannot be used for teaching here in New Zealand. Stupid, I know: definitely a copywrong. Anyway, that’s meant that I’ve had to slip your film off the syllabus of my Bollywood and Beyond course. That was a real shame because it was the best way I could think of teaching debates about the English language in Indian culture as well as showing the students some of the new cinematic sensibilities that have emerged since the early 1980s. Glad to know the DVD will be out soon so that we can put it back on the course. Will it be out by the beginning of 2007?
best
Nabeel
dear dev,
i have been trying for “english,august” dvd. after a long search, i found your blog. can you please gimme the details of when the dvd is launched or going to be launched. and where can i buy it.
thanks and regards,
gopal
thanks god for the internet! i stumbled upon your website. when is the DVD releasing? is it available in India? i’m going to Bombay in jan’07 and would love to pick up a copy.
do keep all the ‘English August’ fans posted.
cheers!
Sreya, yes early 2007 looks like it. It will be announced on this weblog and several otehr sites as well.
Some technical issues relating to PAL & NTSC standards have been resolved. We are also preparing it for internet download as well.
Nabeel: if you are teaching and need a copy of the film you can always as for an academic screener which several Universities and Libraries have.
Please email sales@tropicfilm.com with a specific request ideally from your department email with a FeDex shipping account number. The academic screeners are also charged a different fee which allows you to have screenings in class.
Mr Dev,
I have been visting every music outlet eversince I read this news on you website.
Is it released already?? When is our wait going to get over?
still waiting
Priya
Hi Dev,
Like many others, I am also very anxiously waiting for the release of English August DVD. Please do update this site when the dvd is actually released in the market.
Thanks
anil