Latest news with #SongsofForgottenTrees
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Purulia girl's tale on Mumbai migrants in competition at Venice film fest
1 2 3 Kolkata: A Purulia girl's film about two migrant women in Mumbai, whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined, is in competition with 18 other feature films in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Anuparna Roy's 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', set in Mumbai, is inspired by the story of her childhood friend from Monpura village in Bengal. The Hindi film, filmed by a cinematographer from Bengal, is competing with Teona Strugar Mitevska's film on Mother Teresa. Roy, whose first short film was shot in Purulia, is also keen showcase the Bengal where she grew up. The film's cinematographer, Debjit Samanta, is from Kolkata. "Sakyadeb Chowdhury from SRFTI is the second unit DOP. They are an integral part of my film. Though my film is set in Mumbai, my childhood experiences of Bengal form the springboard for the script. Growing up as a girl in rural and not elite Bengal, I experienced how institutions from schools to family made gender-based discrimination feel normal. In my village school, boys received books and toys. We girls received rice rations based on our body weight until fourth grade," Roy added. As a child attending Ranipur High School, Roy became friends with a girl named Jhuma Nath. "Our village, Narayanpur, was predominantly inhabited by Rajputs. I met Jhuma in Class V and quickly grew fond of her. However, everything changed when I mentioned her name to my father. The caste divisions were deeply entrenched, even within my own family. Despite being a mining engineer, my father reacted with disapproval upon hearing Jhuma's surname. He mocked me for developing a close friendship with someone from the Nath community," she recalled. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Roy was too young to protest against caste discrimination. "I couldn't understand why my father refused to accept my friendship with her. From the next day, I stopped speaking to her. Jhuma would often approach me and quietly ask why I had changed. I had no answer. Eventually, I learned that she married and would never return to school. My intention was to make a documentary about searching for her, but my proposal was not approved by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT)," she said. For the feature film, Roy developed the concept further. The protagonist is a sex worker and wannabe actor in Mumbai whose sugar daddy provides her with an apartment. She sublets the living room to another migrant woman from north India. "My protagonist clings to memories of a lost girl from her childhood. The memories she shares are drawn from my own recollections of Jhuma. In the film, I use the metaphor of the Hollong tree from Assam, often referred to as the forgotten tree. In the story, it symbolises the girl my protagonist has lost," Roy explained, who worked in the corporate sector while writing this film. The film also explores the platonic relationship the two migrant women share. "It also shows how these two women are stuck in the same routine of a straight, male-dominated society. They are not able to express their true feelings for each other until they clearly see how the world around them is like a closed circle, built and controlled by men. In cinema, we women are rarely seen as we are. Instead, we are often sugar-coated through the male gaze, packaged, labelled, and filtered through imposed political, religious, and social frameworks. My film resists that. It attempts to reclaim the space where women exist not as symbols, metaphors, or vessels of ideologies but as themselves," Roy said. Roy is keen to shoot in Bengal. "My first short film, 'Run To The River', was shot in Bengal. It was made in Purulia's local dialect and won a special jury mention at the festival in Russia's Cheboksary and was at festivals in Stuttgart and London. I am keen to return to shoot in Bengal. But the language will be regional, not one used by the elite Bengali language. It will criticise the urban elite's propaganda on culture, language, and system," she said. Kolkata: A Purulia girl's film about two migrant women in Mumbai, whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined, is in competition with 18 other feature films in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Anuparna Roy's 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', set in Mumbai, is inspired by the story of her childhood friend from Monpura village in Bengal. The Hindi film, filmed by a cinematographer from Bengal, is competing with Teona Strugar Mitevska's film on Mother Teresa. Roy, whose first short film was shot in Purulia, is also keen showcase the Bengal where she grew up. The film's cinematographer, Debjit Samanta, is from Kolkata. "Sakyadeb Chowdhury from SRFTI is the second unit DOP. They are an integral part of my film. Though my film is set in Mumbai, my childhood experiences of Bengal form the springboard for the script. Growing up as a girl in rural and not elite Bengal, I experienced how institutions from schools to family made gender-based discrimination feel normal. In my village school, boys received books and toys. We girls received rice rations based on our body weight until fourth grade," Roy added. As a child attending Ranipur High School, Roy became friends with a girl named Jhuma Nath. "Our village, Narayanpur, was predominantly inhabited by Rajputs. I met Jhuma in Class V and quickly grew fond of her. However, everything changed when I mentioned her name to my father. The caste divisions were deeply entrenched, even within my own family. Despite being a mining engineer, my father reacted with disapproval upon hearing Jhuma's surname. He mocked me for developing a close friendship with someone from the Nath community," she recalled. Roy was too young to protest against caste discrimination. "I couldn't understand why my father refused to accept my friendship with her. From the next day, I stopped speaking to her. Jhuma would often approach me and quietly ask why I had changed. I had no answer. Eventually, I learned that she married and would never return to school. My intention was to make a documentary about searching for her, but my proposal was not approved by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT)," she said. For the feature film, Roy developed the concept further. The protagonist is a sex worker and wannabe actor in Mumbai whose sugar daddy provides her with an apartment. She sublets the living room to another migrant woman from north India. "My protagonist clings to memories of a lost girl from her childhood. The memories she shares are drawn from my own recollections of Jhuma. In the film, I use the metaphor of the Hollong tree from Assam, often referred to as the forgotten tree. In the story, it symbolises the girl my protagonist has lost," Roy explained, who worked in the corporate sector while writing this film. The film also explores the platonic relationship the two migrant women share. "It also shows how these two women are stuck in the same routine of a straight, male-dominated society. They are not able to express their true feelings for each other until they clearly see how the world around them is like a closed circle, built and controlled by men. In cinema, we women are rarely seen as we are. Instead, we are often sugar-coated through the male gaze, packaged, labelled, and filtered through imposed political, religious, and social frameworks. My film resists that. It attempts to reclaim the space where women exist not as symbols, metaphors, or vessels of ideologies but as themselves," Roy said. Roy is keen to shoot in Bengal. "My first short film, 'Run To The River', was shot in Bengal. It was made in Purulia's local dialect and won a special jury mention at the festival in Russia's Cheboksary and was at festivals in Stuttgart and London. I am keen to return to shoot in Bengal. But the language will be regional, not one used by the elite Bengali language. It will criticise the urban elite's propaganda on culture, language, and system," she said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anurag Kashyap to present Anuparna Roy's directorial debut 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', set to premiere at Venice Film Festival 2025
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Director Anurag Kashyap is all set to present Anuparna Roy's feature directorial debut 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', which will world premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, reported Variety. The human drama marks India's only selection in Venice's Horizons strand, joining the ranks of previous films including Chaitanya Tamhane's 'Court' and Karan Tejpal's 'Stolen,' the latter of which recently bowed on Prime Video. Story follows an aspiring actress Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel 'Songs of Forgotten Trees' is a Mumbai-set feature. According to the outlet, the film follows Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress who navigates Mumbai by leveraging beauty and wit, occasionally trading intimacy for opportunity. When she sublets her sugar daddy's upscale apartment to Swetha, a fellow migrant working a corporate job, the two women from seemingly different worlds begin sharing more than just living space. Amid Mumbai's relentless pulse, they discover silent empathy, though personal histories and wounds test their delicate connection in what the synopsis describes as "a strange and tender unfolding - of selfhood, of survival, of unexpected kinship. " "I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs," Kashyap said in a statement as quoted by Variety. "Ranjan and I have been associated with multiple such films over the years, and it's amazing to see such raw talent continuously coming up. Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature," added Kashyap as quoted by Variety. Films where Kashyap and Singh have teamed on as producers include 'Little Thomas' and Berlin title 'Tiger's Pond,' reported Variety. Kashyap's endorsement comes as his own latest feature 'Bandar' (Monkey in a Cage), starring Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra, preps for its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Canada News.Net
Anurag Kashyap to present Anuparna Roy's directorial debut 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', set to premiere at Venice Film Festival 2025
Washington DC [US], July 24 (ANI): Director Anurag Kashyap is all set to present Anuparna Roy's feature directorial debut 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', which will world premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, reported Variety. The human drama marks India's only selection in Venice's Horizons strand, joining the ranks of previous films including Chaitanya Tamhane's 'Court' and Karan Tejpal's 'Stolen,' the latter of which recently bowed on Prime Video. Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, the Mumbai-set feature is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh, with co-production from Navin Shetty and Roy herself, reported Variety. According to the outlet, the film follows Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress who navigates Mumbai by leveraging beauty and wit, occasionally trading intimacy for opportunity. When she sublets her sugar daddy's upscale apartment to Swetha, a fellow migrant working a corporate job, the two women from seemingly different worlds begin sharing more than just living space. Amid Mumbai's relentless pulse, they discover silent empathy, though personal histories and wounds test their delicate connection in what the synopsis describes as 'a strange and tender unfolding - of selfhood, of survival, of unexpected kinship.' 'I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs,' Kashyap said in a statement as quoted by Variety. 'Ranjan and I have been associated with multiple such films over the years, and it's amazing to see such raw talent continuously coming up. Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature,' added Kashyap as quoted by Variety. Films where Kashyap and Singh have teamed on as producers include 'Little Thomas' and Berlin title 'Tiger's Pond,' reported Variety. Kashyap's endorsement comes as his own latest feature 'Bandar' (Monkey in a Cage), starring Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra, preps for its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. (ANI)
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Anurag Kashyap Supports Songs Of Forgotten Trees, India's Official Entry to Venice Film Festival
Anurag Kashyap supports Anuparna Roy's debut film Songs of Forgotten Trees, premiering at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has extended his support to Songs of Forgotten Trees, a powerful new film by debutant director Anuparna Roy, by joining the project as presenter. The film has earned a significant milestone, being the only Indian title selected for a world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The festival is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 6 at Venice Lido, Italy. Songs of Forgotten Trees will be screened in the Orizzonti section, which showcases global cinema that reflects fresh voices, innovative styles, and independent storytelling. The film stars Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel in lead roles and is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh, with co-production by Navin Shetty and Roy herself. Kashyap, known for championing emerging voices in Indian cinema, said in a statement: 'I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs… Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature." Set in Mumbai, the film explores the evolving dynamic between two migrant women—Thooya, an aspiring actress navigating the city's chaos through charm and survival instincts, and Swetha, a corporate professional who becomes her unexpected housemate. According to the official synopsis, what begins as a shared living arrangement slowly unfolds into a deeper connection shaped by empathy, vulnerability, and past traumas. Roy, who self-financed the film while juggling three corporate jobs, said the narrative was deeply personal. 'Despite having one of the largest film industries in the world by volume, we rarely tell stories of the marginalised—of those excluded by class, caste, and gender," she shared. The story was born from Roy's search for her childhood friend Jhuma Nath, a survivor of child marriage. 'This film carries her memories," Roy added. (With inputs from PTI) First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Anurag Kashyap backs Indian selection Songs of Forgotten Trees at Venice Film Festival
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has joined Songs of Forgotten Trees as presenter, lending his support to the film, which is set to be screened at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Anurag Kashyap turns presenter for Songs of Forgotten Trees. Directed by debutant Anuparna Roy, the film is the only Indian title to have its world premiere at the prestigious film gala, which will run this year from August 27 to September 6 at Venice Lido in Italy. The only Indian film at Venice this year Songs of Forgotten Trees, which follows the evolving relationship between two migrant women in Mumbai, will be showcased in the Orizzonti section, an international competition for films that highlight new trends, with a focus on debut works, young talents, indie features, and lesser-known cinema. Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, the movie is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi and Ranjan Singh. 'I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different, challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs,' Kashyap said in a statement. 'Ranjan and I have been associated with multiple such films over the years, and it's amazing to see such raw talent continuously coming up. Anuparna is definitely one such voice and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature,' added the filmmaker. About Songs of Forgotten Trees According to the film's official synopsis, Songs of Forgotten Trees follows the story of Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress, who survives the city by leveraging beauty and wit, occasionally trading intimacy for opportunity. "When she sublets her sugar daddy's upscale apartment to Swetha, a fellow migrant working a corporate job, the two women—seemingly from different worlds—begin to share more than just a space. Amid the relentless pulse of Mumbai, they discover a silent empathy. "But as personal histories, desires, and wounds resurface, their delicate connection is tested. What follows is not a rupture, but a strange and tender unfolding—of selfhood, of survival, of unexpected kinship," it read. Roy, who initially self-funded the film while juggling three corporate jobs in Mumbai, said her storytelling is motivated by the lives that mainstream narratives tend to ignore. 'Despite having one of the largest film industries in the world by volume, we rarely tell stories of the marginalised—of those excluded by class, caste, and gender. I want to change that. I want to speak of the miseries I've witnessed and lived through, not just as an Indian but as a global citizen. I believe that telling these stories might give voice to the unheard, offer solace to some, and perhaps even inspire others. My search for this story began with the search for my childhood friend, Jhuma Nath, whose child marriage was carried out under a man-made social order and a failed government scheme. This film carries her memories,' she said. Songs of Forgotten Trees is co-produced by Navin Shetty and Anuparna Roy.
