Indie Film 'Songs of Forgotten Trees' Shines at Venice

Mumbai, Sep 2 (PTI) Indie film "Songs of Forgotten Trees", supported by renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, garnered an exceptional reception during its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.

Helmed by first-time director Anuparna Roy, the movie is the sole Indian film to debut at this esteemed festival, taking place at the Venice Lido in Italy until September 6.

Kashyap expressed his joy at the film's enthusiastic reception. "Witnessing this success for Anuparna and the team is incredibly rewarding. They accomplished a feat in today's industry setting that I couldn't have imagined 25 years ago. I believe the film will have a global journey, and Anuparna is undoubtedly emerging as a powerful new voice in Indian cinema," remarked Kashyap, acclaimed for films like "Black Friday,” "Dev D,” "Gangs of Wasseypur,” and "Kennedy."

Roy conveyed her gratitude to the producers of "Songs of Forgotten Trees." She remarked, “The experience of premiering at Venice and receiving such a response is almost surreal. My heartfelt thanks go to the team who joined me on this journey, notably the producers who steadfastly supported me throughout the project."

The film narrates the evolving dynamics between two migrant women in Mumbai and was featured in the Orizzonti section, an international film competition at the festival. It stars Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel.

According to the official synopsis, the film follows Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress navigating the city with her beauty and wit, sometimes exchanging intimacy for opportunities. The plot thickens when she rents out her sugar daddy's high-end apartment to Swetha, another migrant engaged in corporate work. Despite their differing backgrounds, the women discover a silent bond amid Mumbai's bustling landscape. Personal histories, desires, and old wounds then challenge this fragile connection, leading to a strange and tender evolution of identity, survival, and unexpected friendship.

The movie's premiere was graced by the presence of the director, cast members, and producers including Ranjan Singh of Flip Films, Bibhanshu Rai of River Tale Films, Romil Modi of Romil Casting, alongside co-producers Navin Shetty (Nube Studio – Nube Cirrus), Sharib Khan, and Vikas Kumar (Khan & Kumar Media).

“Songs of Forgotten Trees” has recently been secured for global distribution by Celluloid Dreams.