
Aafat-e-Ishq Director Indrajit Nattoji's Madam Driver Set To Screen At New York Indian Film Festival 2025
New Delhi: Director Indrajit Nattoji, upcoming featurette, 'Madam Driver' starring actress Kitu Gidwani, is set to screen at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2025.
The film will be shown as part of a stellar lineup of Indian independent cinema that includes works featuring veteran actors such as Anupam Kher, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Manoj Bajpayee.
Known for her iconic roles in Swabhimaan, Shaktimaan, Kitu Gidwani leads the cast in this coming-of-age drama about personal transformation and quiet defiance. Madam Driver also stars Ankit Siwachalongside Bhavna Pani (Tezz). Siwach will be representing the film at the NYIFF screenin in New York.
Speaking about the film's selection at NYIFF, Indrajit Nattoji spoke, 'Madam Driver is more than just a story about learning to drive—it's a quiet act of resistance against the deep-rooted patriarchal narratives that continue to define gender roles in much of our society. It also reflects a version of India that I grew up in—one where people connect as humans first, beyond the boundaries of religion, caste, or class. I'm honoured to present this film at NYIFF 2025, alongside some of India's most compelling independent cinema. And I'm proud that Ankit Siwach, whose nuanced performance brings so much heart to the film, will be representing it at the festival. Sharing Madam Driver with a global audience is a reminder that stories of everyday courage can resonate far beyond borders.'
Madam Driver follows the story of 55-year-old widow, Devika Dixit, who decides to learn how to drive—challenging gender norms, confronting grief, and forming unexpected human connections along her journey.
Produced by I.N.K. Pictures LLP in collaboration with GreyOwl Barnstorm Pvt Ltd, this film is part of a larger anthology of stories developed by Nattoji that spotlight women's lives in small-town and urban India, exploring themes of empowerment, resilience, and the joy of reinventing oneself at any age.
Madam Driver will be Screening at NYIFF on June 22, 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani, who could be New York's next mayor, is the son of a famous Indian filmmaker. Check his Indian roots
As the Democratic primary race for the next Mayor of New York City intensifies, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani stands out prominently among the contenders. With initial vote counts placing him in the lead, he has become a central figure in the race. However, with New York City's ranked-choice voting system still in effect, the final outcome remains uncertain, and Mamdani's position will depend on how secondary preferences play out. Currently serving in the New York State Assembly, Zohran Mamdani is gaining recognition not just for his political stance as a democratic socialist but also for his groundbreaking role in state politics. He became the first South Asian man and the first individual of Ugandan heritage to be elected to the New York State Assembly. His presence in public office marks a significant cultural and demographic milestone for representation in the state. Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran Mamdani was raised in a household deeply rooted in intellectual and creative traditions. His father, Professor Mahmood Mamdani , is an esteemed academic known globally for his critical work on imperialism, ethnic conflict, and African history. A scholar of Indian origin born in Uganda, Mahmood has taught at prestigious institutions like Columbia University and currently leads the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Navio porta-contentores encontra piratas: veja o que faz o capitão! Happy in Shape Undo Zohran's mother, Mira Nair , is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker with Indian-American heritage. Her filmography, which includes Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay!, The Namesake, and Queen of Katwe, reflects a deep engagement with social realities and cross-cultural narratives. Her influence on global cinema has earned her a lasting place among celebrated directors. The Mamdani-Nair family journeyed through various continents before finally settling in the United States. Zohran spent his early years in Kampala and then in Cape Town, South Africa, before relocating to New York City at the age of seven. His education began at the Bank Street School for Children, followed by the rigorous academic environment of the Bronx High School of Science. Later, he pursued higher education at Bowdoin College in Maine, majoring in Africana Studies—a field that mirrors his familial and intellectual heritage. Before stepping into the political arena, Zohran was involved in community advocacy, particularly focused on housing rights. Alongside this, he also nurtured a creative passion for music, working as a rap producer in New York City. His political career officially took off in 2020, when he unseated a four-term incumbent in a historic victory that captured the attention of progressives across the city. Since then, he has retained his seat in the State Assembly unchallenged, building a base of strong grassroots support. As per a Times of India report, he married Syrian artist Rama Duwaji earlier this year. Duwaji, a 27-year-old visual artist originally from Syria, currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Her distinctive illustrations have been featured in major media outlets, including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and VICE. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts, where she refined her creative voice and artistic technique. As he vies for the mayoral seat, Mamdani's candidacy represents a fusion of activism, intellect, and cultural legacy—anchored in a personal journey that began far from New York but now shapes its future.
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
19 minutes ago
- First Post
D Gukesh recalls beating Magnus Carlsen, appreciates Norwegian's gesture after loss: 'My heart rate was so high'
Asked to reflect on his victory over Magnus Carlsen in a time scramble, D Gukesh candidly admitted that the result had such a big impact on him that, for a while, he didn't understand what was happening around him. read more The video of Magnus Carlsen slamming the table after losing to D Gukesh had become a worldwide rage. World chess champion D Gukesh's famous win over world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and the five-time world champion's famous table smash after his first-ever Classical-format loss to the Indian at Norway Chess 2025 felt like a seminal moment in chess. It seemed like a proper passing of the baton from Carlsen's generation, with the Norwegian widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time, to the NextGen, led by the youngest world champion ever, Gukesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The fact that Carlsen himself had never rated Gukesh very highly and picked multiple faults in his game across Classical and Freestyle formats made the Indian chess star's victory even more profound and Carlsen hitting the table after losing in a time scramble made the incident worldwide popular. What's quite amazing is that Gukesh was on the losing end throughout the match, but things changed completely once it entered the time control. The 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster is known for his dogged defence and he applied the same fighting spirit on the board on the fateful day as Carlsen committed a rare blunder to lose to Gukesh for the first time in a classical match. Gukesh: 'My heart rate was so high after beating Carlsen' Reflecting on his biggest win so far, Gukesh said that he was so engrossed in the match and the feeling of winning against Carlsen was so strong that he didn't even realise that the 34-year-old banged the table after losing. 'I was just trying to calculate the course, and after I realised it's just winning. But it was such a quick shift from losing to draw to completely winning,' Gukesh told Chess Base India in an interview. 'My mind was just trying to process what happened in the game. OH MY GOD 😳🤯😲 — Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 1, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I did not pay much attention to him banging the table. My heart rate was so high in those final moments. I don't even know what I felt exactly. I was just happy to win the game.' Carlsen, however, was quick to realise his mistake as he congratulated Gukesh, apologised for banging the table and patted the Indian on the back. Gukesh said it was a great gesture by Carlsen to appreciate his opponent despite suffering a bitter loss. 'I was just happy that I won the game. I didn't realize much what else was happening. But even after losing such a game, to appreciate your opponent, it's quite nice,' Gukesh added.


News18
19 minutes ago
- News18
Shah Rukh Khan's Interstellar Moment Is Here, Thanks To Shubhanshu Shukla's Playlist
The song, composed by A.R. Rahman and penned by Javed Akhtar, played in Shubhanshu Shukla's ears as he piloted the NASA-backed Axiom 4 mission. When Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla blasted off into space, his launch playlist featured a track that resonated far beyond the cockpit: 'Yun Hi Chala Chal" from Shah Rukh Khan's 2004 film 'Swades'. The song, composed by A.R. Rahman and penned by Javed Akhtar, played in Shubhanshu Shukla's ears as he piloted the NASA-backed Axiom 4 mission aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft- marking the first time in 41 years that an Indian traveled to space since Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. In Swades, Shah Rukh Khan plays a NASA scientist who returns to India in search of belonging. For Shubhanshu Shukla, the connection felt personal as the film's quiet anthem of forward motion mirrored his own path from Indian Air Force pilot to astronaut, now carrying the tricolour into orbit. 'This is not just the start of my journey to the ISS, but also of India's human spaceflight," Shubhanshu Shukla said in a message from space, adding, 'Let us embark on this journey together." What Were Other Astronauts Listening To? The other astronauts aboard the Axiom 4 mission also brought personal soundtracks to the launch. Mission commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran American astronaut, chose 'Thunder" by Imagine Dragons. Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski went with 'Supermoce", a high-energy collaboration by Igo, Mrozu and Vito Bambino. Hungary's Tibor Kapu picked 'Búvóhely" by Quimby, a moody, atmospheric track. Axiom 4 Mission After multiple delays, the Axiom 4 mission finally launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. All four astronauts- representing India, Hungary, and Poland- lifted off aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, marking a significant moment for international spaceflight. Shubhanshu Shukla addressed the nation moments after reaching orbit saying, 'Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride. We are orbiting Earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second. I have the Indian tricolour on my shoulders. It tells me I am with you all." First Published: June 25, 2025, 16:04 IST