Latest news with #AnuragKashyap
News18
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Anurag Kashyap Supports Songs Of Forgotten Trees, India's Official Entry to Venice Film Festival
Anurag Kashyap supports Anuparna Roy's debut film Songs of Forgotten Trees, premiering at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has extended his support to Songs of Forgotten Trees, a powerful new film by debutant director Anuparna Roy, by joining the project as presenter. The film has earned a significant milestone, being the only Indian title selected for a world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The festival is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 6 at Venice Lido, Italy. Songs of Forgotten Trees will be screened in the Orizzonti section, which showcases global cinema that reflects fresh voices, innovative styles, and independent storytelling. The film stars Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel in lead roles and is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh, with co-production by Navin Shetty and Roy herself. Kashyap, known for championing emerging voices in Indian cinema, said in a statement: 'I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs… Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature." Set in Mumbai, the film explores the evolving dynamic between two migrant women—Thooya, an aspiring actress navigating the city's chaos through charm and survival instincts, and Swetha, a corporate professional who becomes her unexpected housemate. According to the official synopsis, what begins as a shared living arrangement slowly unfolds into a deeper connection shaped by empathy, vulnerability, and past traumas. Roy, who self-financed the film while juggling three corporate jobs, said the narrative was deeply personal. 'Despite having one of the largest film industries in the world by volume, we rarely tell stories of the marginalised—of those excluded by class, caste, and gender," she shared. The story was born from Roy's search for her childhood friend Jhuma Nath, a survivor of child marriage. 'This film carries her memories," Roy added. (With inputs from PTI) First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Anurag Kashyap backs Indian selection Songs of Forgotten Trees at Venice Film Festival
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has joined Songs of Forgotten Trees as presenter, lending his support to the film, which is set to be screened at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Anurag Kashyap turns presenter for Songs of Forgotten Trees. Directed by debutant Anuparna Roy, the film is the only Indian title to have its world premiere at the prestigious film gala, which will run this year from August 27 to September 6 at Venice Lido in Italy. The only Indian film at Venice this year Songs of Forgotten Trees, which follows the evolving relationship between two migrant women in Mumbai, will be showcased in the Orizzonti section, an international competition for films that highlight new trends, with a focus on debut works, young talents, indie features, and lesser-known cinema. Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, the movie is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi and Ranjan Singh. 'I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs,' Kashyap said in a statement. 'Ranjan and I have been associated with multiple such films over the years, and it's amazing to see such raw talent continuously coming up. Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature,' added the filmmaker. About Songs of Forgotten Trees According to the film's official synopsis, Songs of Forgotten Trees follows the story of Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress, who survives the city by leveraging beauty and wit, occasionally trading intimacy for opportunity. "When she sublets her sugar daddy's upscale apartment to Swetha, a fellow migrant working a corporate job, the two women—seemingly from different worlds—begin to share more than just a space. Amid the relentless pulse of Mumbai, they discover a silent empathy. "But as personal histories, desires, and wounds resurface, their delicate connection is tested. What follows is not a rupture, but a strange and tender unfolding—of selfhood, of survival, of unexpected kinship," it read. Roy, who initially self-funded the film while juggling three corporate jobs in Mumbai, said her storytelling is motivated by the lives that mainstream narratives tend to ignore. 'Despite having one of the largest film industries in the world by volume, we rarely tell stories of the marginalised—of those excluded by class, caste, and gender. I want to change that. I want to speak of the miseries I've witnessed and lived through, not just as an Indian but as a global citizen. I believe that telling these stories might give voice to the unheard, offer solace to some, and perhaps even inspire others. My search for this story began with the search for my childhood friend, Jhuma Nath, whose child marriage was carried out under a man-made social order and a failed government scheme. This film carries her memories,' she said. Songs of Forgotten Trees is co-produced by Navin Shetty and Anuparna Roy.
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Anurag Kashyap to present India's Venice Film Festival Selection ‘Songs of Forgotten Trees'
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has come on board as a presenter for the feature directorial debut of Anuparna Roy's Songs of Forgotten Trees. The movie will premiere at the prestigious 82nd Venice Film Festival. The human drama is the only Indian film to be selected in the esteemed Orizzonti section, a launchpad for innovative storytelling that has previously honoured films like Chaitanya Tamhane's Court and Karan Tejpal's Stolen, which recently dropped on Prime Video. Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, Songs of Forgotten Trees is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi and Ranjan Singh and follows the story of two women and how their lives get intertwined in Mumbai. According to the official synopsis, the film follows the story of Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress, who survives the city by leveraging beauty and wit, occasionally trading intimacy for opportunity. When she sublets her sugar daddy's upscale apartment to Swetha, a fellow migrant working in a corporate job, the two women—seemingly from different worlds— begin to share more than just a space. Amid the relentless pulse of Mumbai, they discover a silent empathy. But as personal histories, desires, and wounds resurface, their delicate connection is tested. What follows is not a rupture, but a strange and tender unfolding—of selfhood, of survival, of unexpected kinship. 'I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs,' Kashyap said in a statement about why he decided to present the feature. 'Ranjan and I have been associated with multiple such films over the years, and it's amazing to see such raw talent continuously coming up. Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature,' said Kashyap, whose own feature film Bandar, starring Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra, will have its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Director Anuparna Roy, who initially self-funded Songs of Forgotten Trees while juggling three corporate jobs in Mumbai, said she is drawn to stories that the mainstream 'continues to ignore.' ALSO READ:Anurag Kashyap slams Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos over 'Sacred Games' remarks 'Despite having one of the largest film industries in the world by volume, we rarely tell stories of the marginalized—of those excluded by class, caste, and gender. I want to change that. I want to speak of the miseries I've witnessed and lived through, not just as an Indian but as a global citizen. I believe that telling these stories might give voice to the unheard, offer solace to some, and perhaps even inspire others. 'My search for this story began with the search for my childhood friend, Jhuma Nath, whose child marriage was carried out under a man-made social order and a failed government scheme. This film carries her memories,' she added. Ranjan Singh of Flip Films called Anuparna a 'unique voice,' which compelled him to back the feature. 'I had seen her short (Run to the River) and I remembered one line pitch to me at a film pitch event, and that stayed with me for the longest time.' Songs of Forgotten Trees is co-produced by Navin Shetty and Anuparna Roy.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anurag Kashyap Backs Venice Indian Selection ‘Songs of Forgotten Trees' (EXCLUSIVE)
Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap is throwing his weight behind emerging talent, coming aboard as presenter for Anuparna Roy's feature directorial debut 'Songs of Forgotten Trees,' which will world premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. The human drama marks India's only selection in Venice's Horizons strand, joining the ranks of previous films including Chaitanya Tamhane's 'Court' and Karan Tejpal's 'Stolen,' the latter of which recently bowed on Prime Video. More from Variety LISTEN: Venice Film Festival Lineup is Platform for Awards Season Contenders as Alberto Barbera Competes Hard With Cannes for Buzzy Titles Venice Chief Alberto Barbera on Netflix, State of Global Cinema, and Why Dwayne Johnson Could be Headed for Oscar Glory Venice-Bound Elevated Horror Film 'The Holy Boy' Acquired by Fandango Sales as International Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE) Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, the Mumbai-set feature is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi and Ranjan Singh, with co-production from Navin Shetty and Roy herself. The film follows Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress who navigates Mumbai by leveraging beauty and wit, occasionally trading intimacy for opportunity. When she sublets her sugar daddy's upscale apartment to Swetha, a fellow migrant working a corporate job, the two women from seemingly different worlds begin sharing more than just living space. Amid Mumbai's relentless pulse, they discover silent empathy, though personal histories and wounds test their delicate connection in what the synopsis describes as 'a strange and tender unfolding – of selfhood, of survival, of unexpected kinship.' 'I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs,' Kashyap said in a statement. 'Ranjan and I have been associated with multiple such films over the years, and it's amazing to see such raw talent continuously coming up. Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature.' Films where Kashyap and Singh have teamed on as producers include 'Little Thomas' and Berlin title 'Tiger's Pond.' Kashyap's endorsement comes as his own latest feature 'Bandar' (Monkey in a Cage), starring Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra, preps for its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Director Roy, who initially self-funded the project while juggling three corporate jobs in Mumbai, said she's drawn to stories mainstream cinema 'continues to ignore.' 'Despite having one of the largest film industries in the world by volume, we rarely tell stories of the marginalized – of those excluded by class, caste, and gender. I want to change that,' Roy said. 'I want to speak of the miseries I've witnessed and lived through, not just as an Indian but as a global citizen. I believe that telling these stories might give voice to the unheard, offer solace to some, and perhaps even inspire others.' The project carries deeply personal resonance for Roy, whose search for childhood friend Jhuma Nath – whose child marriage was carried out under what she calls 'a man-made social order and a failed government scheme' – sparked the story. 'This film carries her memories,' Roy added. Producer Ranjan Singh of Flip Films called Roy a 'unique voice' after seeing her short 'Run to the River' and hearing her one-line pitch at a film event. 'That stayed with me for the longest time,' Singh said. 'I am happy that her debut film is premiering at Venice, and I am confident that it'll definitely make a mark on the audience worldwide and in India as well.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Anurag Kashyap's ‘Bandar' to premiere at Toronto International Film Festival
Anurag Kashyap's Bandar (Monkey In a Cage), starring Bobby Deol in the lead role, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the special presentations category. The film is official selection for the 50th edition of the festival set which is going to take place from September 4 to September 14. Deol unveiled a poster for the film on Instagram with the caption, "The story that should not have been told. The film, which is inspired by real-life events, also stars Sanya Malhotra in a key role. The 56-year-old actor most recently appeared in the Telugu film Daaku Maharaj and had a cameo in Housefull 5. His upcoming films include Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1, Alpha and Jana Nayagan. ALSO READ:The Hindu Huddle 2025: 'Pan-India' filmmaking a 'massive scam', streaming content 'worse than television': Anurag Kashyap Kashyap, known for Gangs of Wasseypur, Black Friday and Dev D, was previously invited for TIFF in 2020 as an ambassador. His previous directorial, Kennedy, premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The movie, starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone lead roles, is yet to hit the screens Others Indian films screening at the Toronto festival include Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound and the restored version of Sholay. Homebound, also starring Janhvi Kapoor, premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival under the Un Certain Regard section, drawing a nine-minute standing ovation from the audience.
