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Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap has come on board as presenter of Bangladeshi drama “Delupi,” with the film set to carry the “Anurag Kashyap Presents” banner across its release and promotional campaigns going forward.
“Delupi” had its international premiere in the Bright Future section of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) earlier this year.
The premiere came during a landmark edition of IFFR for Bangladeshi cinema, with three productions from the country – “Delupi,” “Roid” and “Master” – selected across three different competitive sections, the first time that many Bangladeshi films had featured together at the festival. “Master” went on to win the Big Screen Award.
Directed, produced, written and shot by Mohammad Touqir Islam, “Delupi” is set in a Bangladeshi village grappling with the aftermath of a flood and political upheaval. The story follows Partha and Nupur, whose romance becomes a target when local political operator Zakir stirs up a conspiracy against young activist Mihir. As Mihir considers leaving the village in defeat, Partha convinces him to stay and lead the community’s fight for a sustainable dam to protect their homes.
Islam said, “We believe this new collaboration with Anurag Kashyap marks an exciting next chapter in the film’s journey.”
Kashyap will support “Delupi” by championing the project and presenting it to wider audiences as it continues its festival and release journey. Kashyap described the story as “very humane” and said it “feels like our own back yard.” He said the village, cut off from the rest of Bangladesh by a flood following the regime change, works as a metaphor for the whole country, comparing the rebuilding of its dam to rebuilding a nation from scratch with no resources. Kashyap added that the film moved him “in ways I can’t describe.”
The film was written by Islam alongside Amit Rudra, who also served as executive producer and art director. Tanveer Hossain co-produced, with Md. Mushfiqur Rahman Tamal as line producer. The cast includes Chiranjeet Biswas, Aditi Roy, Rudra Roy, Md Zakir Hossain, Palash Kumar Ghosh, Prashanta Roy and Alpona Bairagi.
The film is a production of Footprint Film Production, based in Bangladesh.
