British Council launches UK India Year of Culture in London

The British Council launced a new initiative announced to promote cultural exchange between India and the UK

The launch took place on  February 28 at the British Film Institute (BFI) where, as a highlight of the India programme in the UK, a classic Indian silent film, Shiraz, will premiere at the Archive Gala of the 61^st BFI London Film Festival in October. 

Shiraz tells the love story of the 17^th century princess who inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal. Later in the year the film which has been preserved by the BFI National Film Archive and not seen in India since 1928, will be screened on an outdoor stage in front of the Taj Mahal itself

Preceding this event, the 2017 Year of Culture was officially launched by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 27 February.