We deeply mourn the sad demise of our Respected Governing Body Member, Ms. Aruna Vasudev who was associated with AFD for over four decades. She had been unwell and hospitalized for the past month. Her unwavering dedication, leadership, and commitment to the AFD have left an unforgettable imprint on our organization. She will always be remembered for leaving an legacy of positivity and cheerfulness.
We, at AFD extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time. She was married to the late diplomat Sunil Roy Chowdhury. She is survived by her graphic designer-daughter Yamini Roy Chowdhury, wife of politician Varun Gandhi.
May her soul rest in peace.
Aruna Vasudev
(1936 – September 5, 2024)
Aruna Vasudev (1936 – September 5, 2024) was an Indian critic, author, editor, painter, and maker of documentaries who was considered an eminent scholar on Asian cinema, and was described as the “mother of Asian Cinema”. On September 5, 2024, it was announced that Vasudev had died at the age of 88.
Dr. Aruna Vasudev has a Ph.D. from the University of Paris II for her thesis on “The Legal, Political and Sociological aspects of Censorship in Indian Cinema”. She is the Founder-Director of CINEFAN, the annual Cinemaya Festival of Asian Cinema (now Osian’s Cinefan Film Festival), New Delhi, the Founder-Editor, and publisher of Cinemaya, the Asian Film Quarterly (1988-2004) and the Founder-President of NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema). She is the author of “The New Indian Cinema” (1987) – A Book published by Macmillan India, and “Liberty and License in Indian Cinema” (1979) – A Book published by Vikas Publishing House. She is Co-editor of many books, among them: “The World of Kenji Mizoguchi” by Tadao Sato published by Berg, UK; “When Strangers Meet: Vision of Asia & Europe in Film” a book published by Asia-Europe Foundation & Netpac, in Singapore; “Modernity & Identity in Vietnamese Cinema” a book published in Indonesia in 2003, and many more. She has been involved in many other cinema-related activities and has been president or member of juries in film festivals around the world. Apart from her pioneering work in Asian cinema, she has received many awards, some of them are: Chevalier de I’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French Govt., the Korea Prize from Pusan International Film Festival, the Star of Italian Solidarity, Kalpana Chawla Award for Excellence for women in India and many more
