Ardent cinephiles might already be aware of the premiere of Aparna Sen’s upcoming film ‘The Rapist’ starring Konkona Sen Sharma, Arjun Rampal, and Tanmay Dhanania at the ongoing 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The festival began on 6th October and is scheduled to conclude on 15th October. In fact, ‘The Rapist’ is not the only Indian film to be screened during this year’s reputed South Korean film festival. In this article, we have compiled for our readers a list of Indian films which are a part of the BIFF 2021.
House of Time aka Kalkokkho (Segment: New Currents)
‘Kalkokkho’ is a Bengali horror film from the iconic Kolkata-based production company Aurora Film Corporation, which had also produced Satyajit Ray’s cult film ‘Pather Panchali’. Helmed by Sarmistha Maiti and Rajdeep Paul, ‘Kalkokkho’ is set amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and narrates the story of a doctor held captive by a paranoid woman who is concerned about her family’s health.
Pedro (Segment: New Currents)
It’s a Kannada film directed by Natesh Hegde. The film follows the titular character, who is a middle-aged electrician in a South Indian remote village. When he inadvertently commits a terrible mistake, how the villagers react to the incident ostensibly forms the rest of the plot.
No Man’s Land (Segment: A Window on Asian Cinema)
Acclaimed Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the lead role in this film helmed by Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The film chronicles the story of a South Asian man whose journey takes an interesting and complicated turn when he meets an Australian woman in America.
The Rapist (Segment: A Window on Asian Cinema)
Helmed by globally renowned filmmaker Aparna Sen, ‘The Rapist’ is a hard-hitting film that follows a Delhi-based criminal psychology professor who is the victim of a ghastly incident (Konkona Sen Sharma) while Arjun Rampal plays her husband. The film explores the idea of the extent of the society itself being responsible for producing rapists.
Deep6 (Segment: A Window on Asian Cinema)
Another Bengali film on this list. Directed by Madhuja Mukherjee, the film is set in the year 2011 and revolves around the life of a young journalist after her grandmother passes away. The film features Tillotama Shome and Chandan Roy Sanyal amongst others.
The Road to Kuthriyar (Segment: A Window on Asian Cinema)
Helmed by Bharat Mirle, the film follows a wildlife zoologist and the unique bond he develops with his guide during his field research trip to the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Shankar′s Fairies (Segment: A Window on Asian Cinema)
This 93-minute period film directed by Irfana Majumdar takes place in the capital of Uttar Pradesh Lucknow and is set in the year 1962. The plotline centers around the titular servant working in the house of a senior police officer. One day, he receives bad news about the ill health of his daughter.
Paanha (Segment: Asian Short Film Competition)
It’s a short film with a runtime of 23 minutes and directed by Hemant Kudale. The story revolves around an impoverished teenage boy who works for a stone-hearted employer and wants to visit his dying mother.
Ladies Only (Segment: Documentary Competition)
It’s an Indo-German documentary film that follows the director Rebana Liz John asking passengers commuting in the ladies-only section of the crowded Mumbai trains about what angers them.
A Night of Knowing Nothing (Segment: Documentary Showcase)
Payal Kapadia’s documentary ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing’ revolves around University student life in India. The film had won the best documentary film award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2021.
Funny Boy (Segment: Icons)
Technically a Canadian entry, ‘Funny Boy’ comes from eminent Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, who had previously helmed films such as Fire, Water, and 1947 Earth, to name a few. Based on Shyam Selvadurai’s 1994 novel of the same name, ‘Funny Boy’ follows the story of an upper-class, young Tamil boy based in Sri Lanka before the onset of the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Besides the aforementioned films, Mira Nair’s 1988 film ‘Salaam Bombay!’ was selected for the special segment namely ‘Wonder Woman Movies’ at the Busan Film Festival 2021. Stay tuned to Binged to further updates on the Indian films at the Busan International Film Festival 2021.
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