Sadhana Singh’s Comeback After 43 Years - Feature Film "Kaisi Yeh Paheli" to Have World Premiere at New York Indian Film Festival

By Shanti Swaroop Tripathi

Writer-director Ananyabrata Chakravorty’s debut feature film 'Kaisi Yeh Paheli' is set to have its world premiere at the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), taking place from June 20-22, 2025. Selected for the competition section, the film has also been nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Debut Film. The premiere will be held on June 21 at Village East by Angelika.

Produced under the banner of Tech Pictures by Ananyabrata Chakravorty and Nishu Dixit, the film is a dark comedy and a unique murder mystery set in a small hill town in Northeast India. It follows the endless pursuit of a single mother trying to build a bond with her abusive son.

The film marks the return of Sadhana Singh after 43 years, remembered fondly for her debut film Nadiya Ke Paar. Actor Sukant Goel, previously appreciated for his roles in Netflix originals like Kaala Paani, Ghost Stories, and Monica O My Darling, will be seen in the lead role for the first time in this film. Rajit Kapur, known for his iconic portrayal of Byomkesh Bakshi 28 years ago, returns as a Bengali detective. Chittaranjan Giri, recognized for his roles in Farzi and Gulaal, will be seen portraying a character from the Northeast.

In addition to writing and directing, Ananyabrata has acted in Varun Grover's All India Rank and portrayed a prominent freedom fighter in Ram Madhvani's historical series The Waking of a Nation.

Excited about the film being selected for NYIFF, Ananyabrata Chakravorty says, “For a film that wasn’t made keeping festivals in mind, receiving recognition from such a prestigious platform as the New York Indian Film Festival is a huge validation of our efforts.”

Speaking about the casting, Ananyabrata shares, “Sadhana ji was on my wishlist for her graceful, maternal presence. I knew she chooses her roles very carefully, so it is an honor that she chose our film for her comeback. And for the role of an experienced Bengali detective, who better than the actor who immortalized Byomkesh Bakshi? It’s incredible how our wishes came true simply because they believed in our script.”

Ananyabrata Chakravorty holds degrees in Engineering and Business Administration. Kaisi Yeh Paheli follows his short film 90 to Win and the film Naukri. He is also the author of the novel Split Second and has written Hindi lyrics for Ricky Martin’s Vente Pa’ Ca. He reflects, “Everyone has a mother. There is no other way to enter this world. While they are often seen as symbols of love, care, and sacrifice — celebrated across all forms of literature — they can also stand in the way of our privacy, freedom, and identity, something we rarely acknowledge or talk about. She is a paradox. Through this film, I have tried to see her as a human being with basic, universal desires — love, care, and respect — especially from the very child to whom she gave something as precious as life.”

The film is produced under the banner of Tech Pictures, a boutique production house based in Mumbai, committed to telling original stories with a distinct perspective. It was founded by writer-director Ananyabrata Chakravorty and producer Nishu Dixit. Kaisi Yeh Paheli is their first feature film.

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