Radhika Apte, Hansal Mehta, Nandita Das and Kani Kusruti Among Talent Behind 22 Projects at India’s CinéV Film Market (EXCLUSIVE)

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The second installation of the Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF) in India, their second round, has disclosed the selections for their CinéV-CHD Market. This lineup includes 22 varied projects from both seasoned and budding filmmakers, with over half of these focusing on women’s themes.

The special showcase, happening concurrently with the festival from March 20-23 in Chandigarh, highlights notable figures from Indian cinema across multiple languages such as Chinese, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Urdu, Gujarati, Telugu, Bengali, and Kannada. This event celebrates their significant contributions to the film industry.

Actress Radhika Apte, known for her role in ‘Sister Midnight’, will be directing the film ‘Koyta’ (Sickle), produced by renowned director Vikramaditya Motwane (‘Black Warrant’). This Hindi/Marathi production is an action-fantasy that tells the story of a young migrant sugarcane worker. After undergoing a forced medical treatment, she acquires superpowers and employs them to liberate her family from debt.

Renowned filmmaker Hansal Mehta, best known for “Shahid” and “Scam 1992,” is responsible for the creation of “Hanere De Panchi” (Birds in the Dark), an emotionally charged drama in Kashmiri, Punjabi, and Urdu. This captivating production comes from budding director Shashank Walia and follows a disenchanted police officer and an innocent man falsely accused, who discover an unexpected romance as they navigate a burgeoning agricultural uprising.

As a devoted admirer, I’m excited to share that the accomplished artist Nandita Das, known for her direction in “Firaaq,” “Manto,” and “Zwigato,” has crafted a heartfelt production titled “Avi & Smi.” This English/Hindi drama, which she both directs and produces, delves into the complexities of a separated couple revisiting their 16-year marriage over the span of a day and night.

Having just shone brightly in the Cannes Grand Prix winner “All We Imagine as Light,” I’m thrilled to be part of the team bringing “Guptam” (The Last of Them Plagues) to life. This Malayalam drama, helmed by Kunjila Mascillamani, follows a heart-wrenching tale of a mother whose daughter vanishes in a graveyard. In an attempt to prove her innocence amidst skeptical locals who suspect divine retribution, she embarks on a desperate quest for truth.

In a different phrasing:

Shonali Bose (“The Sky is Pink”) is responsible for “Black Mountain Monpa,” a production by Anshulika Dubey. This film tells the story of a linguist who is assigned to promote Hindi in Arunachal Pradesh and works tirelessly to preserve an endangered language. Notably, acclaimed actress Manju Warrier is involved as a producer in “Beyond The Border Lines,” a movie directed by three-time Indian National Film Award winner Bijukumar Damodaran. This film follows an archaeology team who find themselves stranded at the Indo-China border.

This rewording aims to maintain the original meaning while making it more accessible and easy to read.

1) “The movie ‘Blade Runner,’ directed by Honey Trehan and co-produced with Abhishek Chaubey, tells the true story of D.P. Singh’s transformation into India’s first blade runner. On the other hand, ‘Chronicles of a Confession,’ produced by Ranjan Singh and supported by Anurag Kashyap and Payal Kapadia, follows the tale of a young shawl seller who falsely confesses to a crime in Kashmir, as portrayed in Prateek Vats’ direction.”

2) “In ‘Blade Runner,’ directed by Honey Trehan and co-produced with Abhishek Chaubey, we follow the life journey of D.P. Singh as he becomes India’s first blade runner. Meanwhile, ‘Chronicles of a Confession,’ produced by Ranjan Singh and backed by Anurag Kashyap and Payal Kapadia, depicts the story of a young shawl seller who mistakenly confesses to a crime in Kashmir, under Prateek Vats’ guidance.”

3) “In ‘Blade Runner,’ Honey Trehan and Abhishek Chaubey co-produce a biographical drama about war hero D.P. Singh, who becomes India’s first blade runner. In contrast, ‘Chronicles of a Confession’ is produced by Ranjan Singh and supported by Anurag Kashyap and Payal Kapadia, showcasing the story of a young shawl seller’s false confession to a crime in Kashmir, directed by Prateek Vats.”

4) “The films ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Chronicles of a Confession’ each have unique stories. In ‘Blade Runner,’ Honey Trehan and Abhishek Chaubey co-produce the true story of D.P. Singh becoming India’s first blade runner, while in ‘Chronicles of a Confession,’ produced by Ranjan Singh and backed by Anurag Kashyap and Payal Kapadia, we witness a young shawl seller falsely confessing to a crime in Kashmir under the direction of Prateek Vats.”

5) “Two compelling films, ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Chronicles of a Confession,’ are set to captivate audiences. The former, directed by Honey Trehan and co-produced with Abhishek Chaubey, tells the true tale of war hero D.P. Singh’s transformation into India’s first blade runner. In contrast, ‘Chronicles of a Confession,’ produced by Ranjan Singh and supported by Anurag Kashyap and Payal Kapadia, portrays a young shawl seller’s false confession to a crime in Kashmir under Prateek Vats’ guidance.

Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy’s “Friends and Fascism,” directed by Aishwarya Sonar, portrays an election at a Catholic girls’ boarding school between two ex-best friends. Meanwhile, Rishi Chandna serves as both the director and producer of “Ghol” (The Catch), which follows a fisherman’s dreams centered around a rare, valuable fish catch.

Venkatesh Maha makes the movie “Ko Ko Ko,” which is a Telugu production that tells the story of an unlucky man standing up against his village’s violent tradition of cockfighting. Ajitpal Singh, who first appeared on the scene with his film “Fire in the Mountains” at Sundance 2021, brings us “Marx and Lenin,” a production by Jugni Films LLP that he co-owns with Mauli Singh. This movie follows a journalist and filmmaker as they embark on a potentially groundbreaking journey into a jungle controlled by the Maoists in search of an unforgettable story.

Krishand R.K.’s work, titled “Masthishka Maranam” (a creative blend of Simon’s Recollections), is a captivating comedy-mystery that centers around a bereaved father immersed in a virtual reality memory game. Aakash Bhatia directs the film “Papita,” which stars Richa Chadha as its producer and follows the story of a paparazzo photographer who documents a sensational celebrity event.

Krishand R.K.’s movie, called “Masthishka Maranam” (based on Simon’s Memories), is a thought-provoking comedy-mystery about a father who has lost someone dear to him and finds himself in a virtual reality game. Aakash Bhatia directs the film “Papita,” which Richa Chadha produces, and it follows the journey of a paparazzo photographer as he witnesses a shocking event involving a famous celebrity.

I am captivated by the remarkable work of Atul Sabharwal, who skillfully directs and produces the heartfelt romance, “Prem Patra” (Love Letter). This enchanting tale follows a forlorn postman orchestrating letters between a woman and her soldier husband. On the other hand, Jeo Baby, renowned for his critically acclaimed masterpiece “The Great Indian Kitchen,” has two intriguing projects underway. As a producer, he is involved in “Guptam,” while stepping into the director’s chair for “Punishment.” In this thought-provoking film, an arrogant teacher faces a formidable challenge from an eight-year-old who bravely stands against corporal punishment.

Disha Rindani is the one responsible for “Savvy Savitri,” a production by Anushka Shah. This story revolves around the life of a housing society secretary whose world turns upside down when her spouse is revealed to be a sexual offender. Meanwhile, Mohammad Gani’s creation, titled “Taimur,” is produced by Atif Khan and Sanjay Gulati. It narrates the tale of a compassionate man who hides his infertility from his wife.

Pranav Brara is the one who oversees “Talaab” (The Pond), a movie that Sanita Chittilappilly produces. It’s a story about a woman discovering her schizophrenic tendencies, which she developed as a result of harmful parenting experiences. On the other hand, Karan Tejpal’s “Ummeed” (Hope), produced by Dimpy Agrawal, focuses on a same-sex couple who, in an illegal act, donate sperm to each other. This action unleashes a strange and powerful force.

Dining Solo,” this unique animation collection, stands alone amidst other productions, is crafted by Dhruv Sehgal, the mind behind “Little Things,” and helmed by Debjyoti Saha. The stories within are viewed through the lens of food, delving into intricate human tales.

Completing the lineup is the movie titled “An Unreal Story,” helmed by Utpal Borpujari and produced by Prasanna Vithanage, a Sri Lankan filmmaker who won at Busan (“Paradise”). The story revolves around a hostage attempting to break free by exploiting a child soldier stationed at a military camp in India’s Northeast.

CinéV-CHD is joining forces with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) in organizing CinéV-IFFLA. This partnership aims to incorporate South Asian film projects into IFFLA’s Industry Days event, which will take place from May 6th through the 10th.

Namrata Joshi, the project market curator, was delighted to observe that this year’s submissions have grown dramatically compared to last year, not just in quantity but also in quality. This growth has allowed us to present a diverse assortment of intriguing and captivating tales. We’ve got everything from mind-bending thrillers to sweeping romances, from deep psychological dramas to horror stories with queer themes, from an animated series revolving around food to a comical series that borders on the absurd, and even an adventure story that transcends boundaries.

Nina Lath, head of Cinevesture, emphasized the investment opportunities presented by their chosen projects: “Investing in a movie is similar to investing in a startup with a fast return and exit strategy. We aim for this selection to initiate a trend where investors view film production as an attractive addition to their diverse investment portfolios.

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2025-03-06 13:32