Priyupranav at 11:58, 1 August 2025

2025-08-01T11:58:43Z

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{{Short description|Indian critic (1967–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ajit Rai
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1967|10|01}}
| birth_place = [[Buxar]], Bihar, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2025|07|23|1967|10|01}}
| death_place =
| occupation = Indian film and theatre critic, cultural journalist
| years_active =
}}

'''Ajit Rai''' (1 October 1967 – 23 July 2025) was an Indian film and theatre critic and cultural journalist.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=10 April 2012|title=A Hundred Miles to Go|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/a-hundred-miles-to-go/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Ajit Rai to share his opinion on World Cinema today|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/state-editions/ajit-rai-to-share-his-opinion-on-world-cinema-today.html|access-date=18 September 2021|website=The Pioneer|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Here is a lowdown on which film sold for how much on OTT|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/lifestyle/here-is-a-lowdown-on-which-film-sold-for-how-much-on-ott-277070|access-date=18 September 2021|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref> He was associated with [[Jansatta]] and [[The Indian Express]].<ref name=":2" />

== Early life ==
Rai was born in Kasian village in [[Buxar district]] of [[Bihar]], on 1 October 1967.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Indian film festival makes a tribute to farmers|date=7 May 2012|url=https://www.dw.com/en/indian-film-festival-makes-a-tribute-to-farmers/a-16072651|access-date=18 September 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Work ==
Rai served as the editor of Rang Prasang, journal of [[National School of Drama]], Ministry of Culture Government of India, New Delhi.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Noted film critic Ajit Rai will be gracing the Egyptian Film Festival|url=https://www.dispatchnews.in/news/67438/senior-film-critic-ajit-rai-will-be-special-guest-at-the-egyptian-film-festival|access-date=18 September 2021|website=Dispatch news|language=en}}</ref> Over the years he covered various International Film Festivals, including [[Cannes Film Festival|Cannes International Film Festival]], El Gouna Film Festival, and Cairo International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|title=अरब सिनेमा का पसंदीदा विषय बनता जा रहा है शरणार्थी समस्या, राजनीतिक अस्थिरता और स्त्री सशक्तिकरण|url=https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/hollywood/el-gouna-film-festival-4th-edition-63-films-screened|access-date=18 September 2021|website=Amar Ujala|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cairo International Film Festival unveils dates for {{sic|i|t's|nolink=y}} 43rd edition.|url=https://www.dispatchnews.in/news/22335/egypt-india-cultural-relationship-ajit-rai-film-critic-mohamed-hefzy-cairo-international-film-festival|access-date=18 September 2021|website=Dispatch news|language=en}}</ref>

He was the director of Raipur Film Festival, Azamgarh Film Festival and Haryana International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 December 2015|first=Anuja|last=Jaiswal|title=Chhattisgarh to host international film festival in April|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/chhattisgarhto-host-international-film-festival-in-april/articleshow/50176573.cms|access-date=18 September 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=6 October 2011|title=Now Showing:Jafar Panahi in Jatland|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/now-showingjafar-panahi-in-jatland/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=8 April 2016|title=RIFF director Rai says state films need better content {{!}} Raipur News – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/riff-director-rai-says-state-films-need-better-content/articleshow/51736760.cms|access-date=18 September 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Azamgarh International Film Festival|url=http://azamgarhinternationalfilmfestival.com/director|access-date=18 September 2021|website=azamgarhinternationalfilmfestival.com}}</ref> Rai was also the member of International Farmer Film Festival and festival coordinator of the Media International Film Festival,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and a member of the selection committee for the Meta Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=10 META nominated plays to be staged in Delhi|url=http://www.ianslife.in/culture/10-meta-nominated-plays-be-staged-delhi|access-date=18 September 2021|website=IANS Life|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Selection Committee – Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards|url=http://metawards.com/committee/|access-date=18 September 2021|language=en}}</ref>

== Death ==
Rai died on 23 July 2025, at the age of 57.<ref>{{cite news |title=Buxar Film Critic Passes Away |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/southcinema/buxar-film-critic-passes-away/ar-AA1JdwDM |access-date=26 July 2025 |publisher=MSN News |date=25 July 2025}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rai, Ajit}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian theatre critics]]
[[Category:Indian film critics]]
[[Category:Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Writers from Bihar]]

Ajit Rai - Revision history

Priyupranav at 11:58, 1 August 2025