Raghuvir Joshi’s international debut feature “Sahela” (Companion)
The Australian production is produced by Tayyab Madni of Picture Works Australia and Radhika Lavu of Ellanar Films in India in association with Mythri Movie Makers (Pushpa-The Rise), co-produced by AB International films and Executive Produced by Oscar nominated actor Dev Patel and Jaspreet Kaur.
The English-Hindi language film shot in Australia and set within the vibrant Indian community of Western Sydney, is the tender story of Vir and Nitya, a married couple whose deep bond unravels when Vir comes out as gay.
The film features rising stars Antonio Aakeel (Eaten by Lions, Tomb Raider) and Anula Navlekar (Brahman Naman, BA Pass) in lead roles along with a stellar supporting cast including Sheeba Chaddha, Vipin Sharma, Harish Patel, Anita Patel and Nicholas Brown.
The film boasts of an impressive international crew, including sound designer Wayne Pashley (Elvis, The Great Gatsby, Mad Max: Fury Road), Emmy nominated editor Scott Gray (Top of the Lake), art director Michael Turner (The Great Gatsby), cinematographer Michael McDermott (Hounds of Love, The Furnace), music composer Piers Burbrook de Vere (Little Monsters, Wolf Like Me), with additional music by Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumar. The film is written by Atika Chohan, Raghuvir Joshi, Jett Tettersall and S. Shakthidharan.
Raghuvir Joshi has previously directed the award-winning short Yaman and is a co-producer on Dev Patel’s upcoming directorial debut, Monkey Man. Excited about the South Asian premiere of Sahela at MAMI, he says, “The film is an intimate portrait of love and self-discovery that challenges the weight of familial expectations and entrenched gender roles in our society. It’s a story that redefines our notions of love, exploring the complexity of sexuality and the freedom that comes from breaking conformity. Sahela is an ode to love that doesn’t fit into easy labels and boxes, and the fact that sometimes the most profound act of love is the power to let go.”
Producer Tayyab Madni of Picture Works Australia says, “Sahela is a testament to my deep connection to Sydney and the exceptional talent behind it. As you step into the world of Western Sydney, you’ll experience a unique insight into the South Asian diaspora . It marks a profound milestone for Picture Works Australia and myself, and above all, celebrates the art of storytelling and the universal experience of love.”
….
Ajay KR
Leave a Reply