Actor-filmmaker Prakash Jha’s film Matto Ki Saikal will be showcased in the – A Window on Asian Cinema – section of the international festival.
Prakash Jha-starrer Matto Ki Saikal is set to have its world premiere at the 25th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. The film – directed by debutant filmmaker M Gani – will be showcased in the – A Window on Asian Cinema – section of the festival and besides Jha, features Anita Choudhary and Aarohi Sharma, among others.
The film – produced by Sudhirbhai Mishra – revolves around the story of a family’s struggle to buy a new bicycle and how their lives depend on it. Talking about his role in the film, Prakash Jha says, “I was surprised when they approached me for playing Matto! It is a beautiful story, almost heart-breaking… but Matto is completely opposite to what I am in real life!”
Talking about his debut film premiering at the acclaimed international film festival, director M Gani says he is happy to present a story from rural heartland on such prestigious international platform. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the selection committee of the prestigious Busan International Film Festival and to Mr Prakash Jha who stood by me and believed in the story. I was fortunate that I had a wonderful team which made this film possible and I thank each member associated with the film. I am humbled that an original voice from a rural heartland India has been noticed at an International coveted platform which will pave the way for people who believe that Cinema can be a medium to showcase the life of the downtrodden and have the passion to tell meaningful stories,” he says.
The director adds, “I have been associated with different forms including theatre and education where my motto was to show a common man’s heartfelt experiences of struggling, dreaming, and finding life in between. Cinema is the only medium where one can articulate what one has felt throughout life and I consider the medium very personal. Many anecdotes in the film have been my own experience in life as I come from the same world and I feel that Cinema has a universal language and the feelings which I tried to convey will reach people across the world.”
Indian cinema is making its presence felt at the Busan International Film Festival. Besides, Matto Ki Saikal, Emraan Hashmi-starrer Harami too will be showcased at the Busan Film Festival. An Indo- American production, Harami has officially been selected to be a part of the main competition section (New Horizons) of the Busan International Film Festival 2020. Written and directed by Shyam Madiraju, Harami is the only Indian film to be selected for this year’s main competition.
Due to the Coronavirus global pandemic, Busan and Venice are the only two premier international film festivals being held physically this year. The Busan Film Festival will run from October 21 to 30, 2020 and screen 194 films physically in theatres.