Secrets of a Mountain Serpent: Richa Chadha & Ali Fazal’s Studio Takes Charge

Directed by Nidhi Saxena, Secrets of a Mountain Serpent now has Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal attached as producers, under their banner Pushing Button Studios. Nidhi Saxena's debut feature film Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman was screened at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival and received rave reviews. Her new film, co-produced with Camera d'Or winner Vimukthi Jeyasunghar's Forest Flower, is set for its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this year. Nidhi Saxena became the first Indian woman to win the 'Biennale College Fund Grant' for 'Secrets of a Mountain Serpent'.

Trimala Adhikari Stars in '90s Himalayan Love Drama

The film is set in a Himalayan town in the 1990s and tells the story of Barkha (played by Trimala Adhikari), a school teacher whose husband is posted at the border. Where most of the men are away and days pass in silence, Barkha meets Manik Guho (played by Adil Hussain), a mysterious outsider. He changes the balance between waiting, patience, and myth in Barkha's life with his influence.

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, who founded Pushing Button Studios to promote authentic and emotional stories, said in a joint statement, “Upon hearing the story, we were instantly drawn to Nidhi’s poetic vision. The story is steeped in myth and yet so relevant in today’s times. At PBS, we support storytellers who take creative risks, and Nidhi has created something unique, poetic, and soul-stirring.”

Welcoming this new creative collaboration, Nidhi Saxena, writer and director of the film, said, “The film is about women risking everything to go after their desires, shedding the burden of morality imposed by society. I was looking for such collaborators, and this feels like a connection of heart and mind. It feels like we no longer need to borrow the voice of men to tell our stories. We have our own strong and feminine voice.”

Secrets of a Mountain Serpent has been completed and is currently in post-production. Its world premiere will be on August 20 at the Venice Film Festival.

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