Toronto: When the 2022 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) returns with a run in theaters, Indian films will make their mark with no less than five premieres scheduled.
Due to the large Indo-Canadian population of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), one of the community’s main attractions this year is Kacchey Limbu, director Shubham Yogi’s debut film. “Whether it’s about playing an old sport in a new way, challenging sexist traditions, or changing your mind about what you want to be, this is a movie about embracing possibility – and winning.” I play for the sheer joy of the game, not for the sake of it,” TIFF said of the film. According to the filmmaker, this “youth brothers drama” is set against the backdrop of cricket and stars actor Radhika Madan.
Another draw might be Nandita Das’ director Zwigat, which stars Indian comedian Kapil Sharma, who plays a food delivery app driver. One TIFF described the film as capturing it in a “realist style”. They are slowly opening up ideas about workers’ rights and solidarity. ”
Also on the horizon is The Tiger’s Husband, directed by Limadas, who won the National Award. Her latest feature is set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and will be the first Indian film to be featured in her section of the prestigious platform.
While these are fictional features, director Vinay Shukla will bring his documentary film, While We Watched, to this year’s festival, centered around TV journalist Ravish Kumar. “Although the film is rooted in India, its portrayal of misinformation eroding factual news could apply to any country, from Russia to the United States,” TIFF said of the production.
Legendary director Satyajit Ray’s final feature film Agantuk, produced in 1991, was also screened at the festival and premiered in high quality digital restoration courtesy of the National Film Development Corporation of India and the National Film Archive of India. increase.
Finally, although officially Canadian, New Delhi-born director Nisha Pahuja’s documentary To Kill A Tiger is based in India and follows a 13-year-old girl’s struggle for justice after being sexually abused. It tracks the compelling story of a Jharkhand family. Attacked by three men. TIFF noted that the film is “horrific” but “brave and enlivened by its stunning finale”.
Last year TIFF screened three Indian films, but only one in 2020. Covid-19 has ruined the festival, forcing it to move completely online. In 2019, before the pandemic, he had four films from India.
The festival runs from September 8th to 18th.
