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Filmmaker Shot His Way In: Debut Feature Premieres
8 Jul
Summary
- Filmmaker Yashasvi Juyal shot his debut feature before seeking funding.
- The film draws inspiration from North Indian supernatural folklore.
- Real toll booth workers and their lives informed the narrative.
Indian filmmaker Yashasvi Juyal took an unconventional route for his debut feature, 'The Ink Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb.' Instead of traditional pitching, Juyal chose to shoot the film first and then seek funding. The movie, premiering in the Proxima Competition at Karlovy Vary, is set in North India and explores supernatural themes drawn from local folklore and Juyal's upbringing in the upper Himalayas.
The film's characters and settings are inspired by Juyal's research. He interviewed real toll booth workers, one of whom shared a story that sparked the film's central concept. Juyal also conveys anxieties about infrastructure development and its impact on communities, a theme influenced by his own experiences and family history.
Juyal cites influences from filmmakers like Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Scott Barley, as well as documentarian Shaunak Sen. Funding for the project was secured post-production through various grants and programs, including support from Netflix and the Red Sea Fund. The film stars Dheeraj Kumar and Bhumika Dube.
