Emraan Hashmi Starrer Harami Selected For Busan Film Festival's Main Competition Section

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By Team Bollyy
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Emraan Hashmi Starrer Harami Selected For Busan Film Festival's Main Competition Section

Jyothi Venkatesh

Harami an Indo- American production feature film, written and directed by Shyam Madiraju and featuring Emraan Hashmi has officially been selected to be a part of the main competition section (New Horizons) of the Busan International Film Festival 2020. One of the 10 films from 9 countries in the competition, Harami is the only Indian film to be selected for this year's main competition. In a year drastically affected by Covid, besides Venice, Busan is the only other festival that's taking place physically. All 194 films selected this year for the festival will all be screened physically in theaters from  21 -30 October, 2020.

Says Shyam Madiraju on his film Harami getting into main selection at Busan Film Festival, “As a filmmaker, I’m truly elated that Harami has been invited to be a part of Busan Festival’s main competition section. Korea is the epicenter of the filmmaking universe right now, so it’s an immense honor to be a part of their celebration of cinema this year. Harami, while set in the streets and slums of Mumbai is a universal story of hope and redemption. The film, a labor of love, took me over two years to just scout during numerous visits to India and despite all the monumental challenges we shot live in Victoria Terminus, Bombay Central, and other trains stations, a feat not for the faint-hearted. With crews over 200 including international talent from America, UK, Denmark and South Africa, Harami was a global production set in the slums of Dharavi and crowded streets of Mohamed Ali Road."
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On casting Emraan Hashmi in his film, he adds, “The most endearing and cherishing part of this whole journey was working with all the actors in the film. Especially the kids, a majority of them having never acted before, and some actually from Dharavi; it was an experience of a lifetime. Emraan Hashmi playing the role of ‘Sagar Bhai’ a very Dickensian Fegin like character who is a former English teacher turned gang lord, who is the real revelation of the film. The role complex and nuanced and unlike anything Emraan had done before, was a true challenge for both Emraan and I. Having never worked in Bollywood or with Emraan before, all my concerns disappeared when I saw how collaborative and detailed Emraan, a true director’s actor, was with his preparation for the role. We discussed in great detail over numerous reading sessions and rehearsals, the smallest elements of his character, like his gait, his diction, his style of speaking, the choice of English over Hindi, and his unique look that we created for him."

Emraan Hashmi reiterates that it was Shyam’s script that really attracted him to the project and also his obsession with details was very contagious. It was a true passion project for all involved and I am looking forward to the day when we will be able to share the film with the Indian audience."
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Says Pravesh Singh Rajput, Producer, “Harami is a bold and artistic film, but at the same time it has a very modern style of filmmaking that will appeal to a very wide range of audience in India. It is also a very timely film for the youth of India as they are increasingly voicing their displeasure with the status quo in the film industry and the nation. The majority of the child actors being first time actors the film brings an authenticity and rawness to the film that will appeal to the younger audience of India. I am proud that we are premiering at Busan and I am even more proud to have helped bring Shyam Madiraju’s vision to the screen."

Producers of the film include Pravesh Kumar Rajput and Brent Maddock. HARAMI is a hard-hitting, visually striking street saga of youth crime and broken destinies, love and redemption, played out against the vibrant backdrop of chaotic and relentless Mumbai.The film stars Emraan Hashmi (Sagar Bhai), Rizwan Shaikh (Pachpan), Harsh Rajendra Rane (Chiyasi), Dhanshree Patil (Uma), Diksha Nisha (Isha), Ashutosh Gaikwad (Chappan), Starr Liu (Asha), Sachin Parikh (Corrupt Constable), Rohan Sood (Vinod), Subrat Dutta (Dhiran Yvas). While Shyam Madiraju is the Writer/Director/Producer, Shahin Khosravan is the writer of the film which is produced by Brent Maddock, Dori Zuckerman, Gavin Lurie, Mohit Rastogi and Pravesh Kumar Singh. Lasse Ulvedal Tolbøll and Matt Batchelor are the Directors of Photography.

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