Raghuvir Joshi's International Debut Feature SAHELA Executive Produced By Dev Payel to Make Its South Asia Premiere At Jio MAMI

Raghuvir Joshi's international debut feature Sahela (Companion) will make its South Asia premiere at the Jio MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival in the Focus South Asia section. The festival will be held from October 27 - November 5, 2023.

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.”

Radhika Lavu, Founder-Producer at Ellanar Films, elucidated, "Within the sanctum of Ellanar, our endeavor remains a relentless pursuit of art, unshackled by boundaries. ‘Sahela' stands as a proof of our commitment, a cinematic voyage into the deepest corridors of the human heart, seen through the sensitive lens of sociocultural awareness. It is with delight that we unveil this multifaceted film, one that peels back the layers of life's complexities, allowing hope to shine through even the most heart-wrenching circumstances."

Sahela captures the poignant journey of Vir Oza and Nitya Behl, a young married couple residing in the suburb of Parramatta in Western Sydney. Struggling beneath the weight of Indian familial expectations and ingrained gender norms, Vir and Nitya's paths intersect at a critical breaking point, propelling Vir to disclose his true sexuality to Nitya. This revelation causes a disconnect between the couple, casting a cloud of societal disgrace over their family's deeply held cultural values. As Vir embarks on a voyage of self-discovery, Nitya grapples with the very fabric of her own reality, leading them down pathways of exploration and transformation. Albeit still emotionally tethered to each other, they unearth an alternate perspective on love.

About Raghuvir Joshi

Raghuvir Joshi is a Mumbai/Sydney-based film director, born and raised in Mumbai, India. Raghuvir worked as an assistant director on films like Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (1&2), Zero Dark Thirty, and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, among others. He has been an assistant to Dame Judi Dench and a dialect coach to actor Dev Patel.

In 2018, Raghuvir directed YAMAN, a short film that was selected for the Palm Springs Film Festival and Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) garnering rave reviews, and paving the way as a proof of concept for 'SAHELA'. Raghuvir is also a co-producer on Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man which is produced by Bron Studios and Thunder Road

About Picture Works Australia 

Picture Works Australia has a passion for narrative film, and this brought together an ensemble of award-winning industry professionals, each committed to the craft of storytelling. Together, they strive to build narratives that withstand the test of time. Their mission extends beyond not only entertainment, but to serve as catalysts for positive change. Picture Works Australia was opened in 2017 by Tayyab Madni.

About Ellanar Films

Since its inception, Ellanar Films has been artistically fueled to bring to life exceptional works of art and collaborate with passionate storytellers to bring their craft to the audiences. At the heart of it – we are storytellers aiming to push the boundaries of art, through our love for the craft of filmmaking. Self expression in all its forms is what drives us to present the most personal, compelling and entertaining tales to the most diverse audiences, which is the foundation of our truly ‘glocal' content.

We are building the future of content – propelling, pushing and projecting stories that are universal, yet deeply rooted, on a global scale. With a vibrant and diverse leadership, Ellanar Films' expertise extends to domains as varied as Big-screen cinema, Documentaries, short films, Digital content and AD films.

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