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FTII Grad Takes Indian Cinema to Cannes
29 Apr
Summary
- Mehar Malhotra's diploma film competes at Cannes.
- Film explores exhaustion and socio-economic disparity.
- Malhotra seeks to deepen connection with Punjabi roots.
Mehar Malhotra, an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), is heading to the Cannes Film Festival with her diploma film, 'Shadows of the Moonless Nights,' competing in the La Cinef category. This achievement follows a successful trend for FTII graduates at the festival.
Malhotra's film centers on the protagonist Rajan, who struggles to find sleep amidst a culture that glorifies constant hustle. The narrative aims to highlight the commodification of rest and shed light on socio-economic disparities, particularly the challenging conditions faced by the working class.
Born and raised in New Delhi, Malhotra's journey into filmmaking began after a journalism background and a passion for theatre. She found her calling during an internship in Mumbai, realizing her desire to write fiction for cinema.
The decision to create her film in Punjabi stems from Malhotra's desire to reconnect with her heritage, particularly her mother's family in Ludhiana. She views this film as a personal exploration of her roots and hopes to continue making films in Punjabi to further engage with her culture.
