11 Films to watch from the South Asia Competition at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival
The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival (19–24 October 2024) is back, promising six immersive days of world cinema, artistic innovation, and cultural exchange. With over 110 films from 45 countries—spanning 50+ languages, genres, and formats—the festival offers something for every film lover. This year’s edition balances exciting premieres with thoughtful retrospectives, offering both glitz and substance to Mumbai’s vibrant audience. Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, fresh from winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, will set the stage as the opening film, while Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth, starring the iconic Shabana Azmi, will close the festival, celebrating Azmi’s extraordinary 50-year career in cinema.
Beyond screenings, the festival buzzes with masterclasses, Q&A sessions, and networking opportunities—perfect for cinephiles eager to learn the craft or connect with industry veterans. International heavyweights and South Asian gems come together across various curated sections, such as the Focus South Asia programme and World Cinema showcase, turning Mumbai into a cinephile’s playground.
At the heart of this cinematic fiesta lies the South Asia Competition, a celebration of contemporary filmmaking from the region and its diasporas. This competitive section elevates bold, new voices, offering a platform to films that push creative and cultural boundaries. From Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó’s Agent of Happiness, based in Bhutan, to Rima Das’s anticipated follow-up Village Rockstars 2, this year’s line-up delves into themes of identity, tradition, and transformation. With films like Girls Will Be Girls exploring sexuality and rebellion, and Little Jaffna portraying a gripping crime thriller set within the Tamil diaspora in Paris, the competition promises diversity and depth.
Agent of Happiness
- October 19 2024, 10.15 am – 11.50 am [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]
- October 21 2024, 4.30 – 6.10 [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
- October 22 2024, 6.45 – 8.25 [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 1]
Girls Will Be Girls
- October 19 2024, 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 20 2024, 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
- October 21 2024, 6.45 pm – 8.45 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 4]
Village Rockstars 2
- October 19 2024, 8.45 pm – 10.30 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 21 2024, 10.15 am – 12.00 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 23 2024, 4.00 pm – 5.45 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
Kiss Wagon
- October 22 2024, 12.15 pm – 3.10 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]
- October 23 2024, 9:00 pm – 11.55 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
- October 24 2024, 5.30 pm – 8.25 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
Little Jaffna
Little Jaffna immerses viewers in the unique intersection of Tamil culture and life in Paris. When Michael Beaulieu, a Tamil police officer, is tasked with infiltrating a cartel funding the Liberation Tigers in Sri Lanka, he navigates the complexities of his dual identity. Blending into the tight-knit Tamil community, he grapples with his loyalties as he uncovers the hidden dynamics of a neighborhood that celebrates both Tamil traditions and life in France. Lawrence Valin’s directorial debut combines the grit of a crime thriller with a profound exploration of identity. Featuring seasoned actress Raadhika Sarathkumar and writer Vela Ramamoorthy, the film delves into Michael’s internal conflict as he balances his official duty with a moral calling. As he delves deeper into the criminal underworld, Little Jaffna sheds light on the struggles of a community caught between two cultures, presenting a nuanced narrative that resonates with audiences at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals.
- October 20 2024, 4.30 pm – 6.05 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]
- October 22 2024, 1.00 pm – 2.35 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
- October 23 2024, 9.45 pm – 11.20 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 4]
Nocturnes
- October 21 2024, 4.30 pm – 5.55 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 22 2024, 10.00 am – 11.25 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]
- October 23 2024, 6.45 pm – 8.10 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
Pooja, Sir
- October 20 2024, 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 21 2024, 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
- October 24 2024, 9.30 pm – 11.30 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
Phool Ka Chand [Rhythm of a Flower]
- October 20 2024, 1.00 pm – 2.20 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 21 2024, 7.00 pm – 8.20 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
- October 23 2024, 10.15 am – 11.35 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
Santosh
Sandhya Suri’s feature debut, Santosh, emerged from years of research and personal encounters. The story follows a newly widowed woman who inherits her husband’s police constable job in rural northern India, drawing from real-life government schemes. But it is reductive to term the film a crime drama—it’s a sharp exploration of power within the police force, caste, and gender. The idea came to Suri after witnessing female officers restraining protestors during the 2012 Nirbhaya protests. Fascinated by the blurred lines between authority and oppression, she developed the screenplay with support from Sundance Labs. Produced across the UK, France, Germany, and India, Santosh blends documentary realism with noir fiction. Its outdoor set pieces, shot by Lennert Hillege, and the naturalistic performances of Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar add depth to this gripping narrative. Premiering at Cannes, the film also captivated audiences at Telluride, Toronto, and Busan, making it a standout debut.
Screenings:
- October 21 2024, 5.00 pm – 7.05 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]
- October 23 2024, 12.45 pm – 2.50 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 5]
- October 24 2024, 10.00 pm – 12.05 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 4]
Shambhala
Set against the backdrop of a polyandrous village in Nepal, Shambhala follows Pema, a pregnant newlywed, whose life takes a tumultuous turn when her first husband, Tashi, disappears on the trade route to Lhasa. Accompanied by Karma, her monk-husband, Pema ventures into the unforgiving Himalayan wilderness to find him—a journey that slowly transforms into one of self-discovery and inner liberation. Min Bahadur Bham’s sophomore feature is as much a visual odyssey as a narrative one. Shot in both fixed, meditative frames and handheld sequences, the film mirrors Pema’s shifting emotional landscape, capturing moments of isolation, resilience, and introspection. Cinematographer Aziz Zhambakiyev’s roving camera embraces Nepal’s rugged beauty, with wide-angle shots of prayer flags fluttering against vast mountain ranges. The film’s thematic undercurrent draws from Buddhist philosophy, balancing impermanence with mindfulness. Presented in Nepali and Tibetan, Shambhala has earned recognition at prestigious festivals, including Berlin, Locarno, and BFI London, solidifying Bham’s distinct Himalayan storytelling style.
- October 22 2024, 8.00 pm – 10.30 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]
- October 23 2024, 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 24 2024, 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
The Fable
Nine years after Thithi (2015), Raam Reddy returns with The Fable, a departure from his debut that feels both whimsical and profound. Set in the late 1980s, the story unfolds in Teen Pahad, a lush Himalayan estate presided over by Dev (Manoj Bajpayee), a quiet man obsessed with crafting mechanical wings to soar over the valley. His idyllic existence unravels when trees in the orchard mysteriously catch fire, forcing him to confront unsettling truths about his world and family. Shot on 16mm in muted, earthen tones, the film evokes an otherworldly yet tactile experience, where magic and reality merge seamlessly. Reddy’s use of texture and sound immerses the audience in a world suspended between fantasy and introspection. Premiering at the Berlin International Film Festival, The Fable reflects years of perseverance, delivering a cinematic meditation on nature, legacy, and self-discovery, where even the mundane carries traces of the mystical.
- October 20 2024, 7.30 pm – 8.25 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 2]
- October 23 2024, 4.30 pm – 6.25 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]
- October 24 2024, 1.30 pm – 3.25 pm [Juhu PVR Dynamix Mall, Juhu – Audi 3]