A Look At The Indian Films At The Busan International Film Festival 2019

The Busan International Film Festival has announced its line-up and once again there is no lack of Indian titles.

One of Asia's largest film festivals will see it's 24th edition take place between October 3rd and 12th.  This year's line-up boasts of a range of Indian films in multiple categories, many of which are world premieres. From a retrospective on celebrated female filmmakers including the work of Deepa Mehta, to the latest from festival favourites like Gurvinder Singh and Alankrita Srivastava, this year boasts a total of 18 Indian films. Here's a look at the complete line up of all Indian films.

A Window on Asian Cinema

Aadhaar

Director: Suman Ghosh

Starring Mukkabaaz's Vineet Kumar Singh, and directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Suman Ghosh, Aadhaar is a comedy-drama centred on the man who becomes the first in his village to have an Aadhaar card. The film is the latest from the Drishyam Films stable, known for acclaimed films like Ankon Dekhi and Newton. 

Bombay Rose

Director: Gitanjali Rao

Acclaimed filmmaker Gitanjali Rao's debut animated feature continues its festival run after making the rounds at Venice, London and Toronto. The film was six years in the making and follows a love story between two flower sellers in the city of Bombay, set against the backdrop of the Hindi film industry.

Bitter Chestnut

Director: Gurvinder Singh

The celebrated Chauthi Koot filmmaker returns with his next – a Pahari, English and Hindi language film which is an account of his time in the town of Bir in Himachal Pradesh. The festival will mark the world premeire of the film which looks at migration and reverse migration in Bir, Barot and Baragraan through the lives of real people.

Children of the Sun

Director: Prasanna Vithanage

Set in 1814 during British rule, the film follows a woman of Sri Lankan nobility who fights to keep her dignity after marrying an outcast and being stripped from her position. Sri Lankan director Prasanna Vithanage's film will have its world premiere at the festival.

Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars

Director: Alankrita Shrivastava

Lipstick Under My Burkha director Alankrita Shrivastava's third feature is a comedy with an electric cast including Konkana Sensharma, Bhumi Pednekar, Vikrant Massey and Amol Parashar among others.  The story follows two cousins (Sensharma and Pednekar) from the suburbs of Delhi, who lead secret lives.

Jallikattu

Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery

After its world premiere at Toronto, Jallikattu hits the screens at Busan. The celebrated director behind acclaimed Malayalam films like Ee. Ma. Yau. and Angamaly Diaries, tells a new story set in a remote village in Kerala where a buffalo escapes and causes chaos and violence.

Maadathy, An Unfairy Tale

Director: Leena Manimekalai

Documentary filmmaker Leena Manimekalai's latest will have its world premiere at the festival. The film tells a difficult tale of oppression, following the lives of the Puthirai Vannar women, considered to be the lowest in the caste hierarchy.

Market

Director: Pradip Kurbah

Ïewduh is the largest market in the Northeast's Khasi Hills and serves as a melting pot of cultures, religions and communities. Pradip Kurbah's film, which will have its world premiere at the festival, follows the stories of various people from the region.

Nirvana Inn

Director: Vijay Jayapal

A boatman capsizes his boat, killing all his passengers and survives. Wracked with guilt, he flees to the mountains and becomes the caretaker of a Himalayan resort, Nirvana Inn, and is shocked to see his victims checking in. The horror film will have its world premiere at the festival and stars Adil Hussain and Rajshri Deshpande.

Roam Rome Mein

Director: Tannishtha Chatterjee

Acclaimed actress Tannishtha Chatterjee turns director with this, the story Raj who travels to Rome to look for his missing sister. The film stars Chatterjee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Italian actress Valentina Corti.

The Wayfarers

Director: Goutam Ghose

National Award-winning Bengali director Goutam Ghose's latest is a story of two strangers, perpetually on the fringes of survival. Ghose's film is lead by an exciting cast of festival-favourites including Adil Hussain, Tillotama Shome and Neeraj Kabi.

Open Cinema

The Sky Is Pink

Director: Shonali Bose

Following its world premiere at TIFF, the family drama from Margarita With A Straw director Shonali Bose will have its Asian premiere at the festival. The film stars Zaira Wasim and Farhan Akhtar and marks the grand return of Priyanka Chopra to Hindi cinema. The Sky Is Pink is based on a true story of Aisha Chaudhary (played by Wasim), who became a motivational speaker at the age of 13 after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

99 Songs

Director: Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy

A R Rahman's debut as a producer and writer tells a sensual story about art and self-discovery of a struggling singer who dreams of being a music composer.

New Currents

Just Like That

Director: Kislay Kislay

Just Like That follows the story of Mrs Sharma, a widow who embarks on a journey of self-discovery to find herself and a new identity.

Wide Angle: Short Film Showcase

Knock Knock Knock

Director: Sudhanshu Saria

The only Indian short at the festival comes from Sudhanshu Saria, director of the celebrated same-sex love story Loev. The film follows the relationship between a Nepali boy and his grandfather.

Special Programs in Focus

In a special section called "Gaze and Memories – Asia's Leading Women Filmmakers", the festival is set to showcase a retrospective of three renowned female Asian filmmakers. From India, it will be screening Deepa Mehta's Elements Trilogy, along with Trinh T. Minh-ha from Vietnam and Yasmin Ahmad from Malayasia.