Jio Mami Film Festival: 'Slumdog Millionaire' fame Indian-origin British actor Dev Patel produced the film "Sahela: Self-discovery with a sense of cultural embarrassment..."

After its international premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival and SXSW, Sydney, the English-Hindi language film "Sahela" (Companion), produced by director Raghuvir Joshi and ‘Slumdog Millionaire fame Indian-origin British actor Dev Patel, will have its South Asian premiere from 27 October. 'Jio MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival 2023' is going on till November 5.

The story of the film “Sahela” (Companion) centers on the Indian community living in Western Sydney and is inspired by real events. The film 'Sahela' (Companion) is a tender and heart-touching story of a deeply in love married couple, Veer and Nitya, where Nitya, discovers that her husband Veer is gay.

To their respective conservative Indian parents, Veer (Antonio Akil) and Nitya (Anula Navalekar) are a happily married couple living in Parramatta, Sydney. They like playing the sitar together, she is a successful dentist, and he is studying for his accounting exam. However, as the cultural expectations ingrained in them from childhood begin to affect them, they both struggle to keep up appearances. After reaching breaking point, Veer comes out to Nitya about his sexuality, causing a rift between them and bringing shame to their families. Veer then decides to explore his sexual identity with another man. This revelation causes separation between the couple, bringing social disgrace to their family's deeply held cultural values. As Veer embarks on a journey of self-discovery, Nitya grapples with her reality, leading them on a path of exploration and transformation. Although they are still emotionally tied to each other, they discover an alternative perspective on love.

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Raghuvir Joshi, originally a Gujarati, worked as an assistant director in films like 'Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (1-2), Zero Dark Thirty, and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. He has been an assistant to Dame Judi Dench and a dialect coach to actor Dev Patel. In 2018, Raghuveer Joshi directed the short film 'Yaman', which was selected for the Palm Springs Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) and received positive reviews, serving as a proof of concept for 'Sahela'. Paved the way. Raghuveer Joshi is also the co-producer of Dev Patel's directorial debut 'Monkey Man', produced by Braun Studios and Thunder Road. It is just a coincidence that Dev Patel is the producer of the film 'Sahela'.

Director Raghuveer Joshi further says, “Not everyone is lucky enough to find love, and very few people get a love that lasts. I am one of those lucky people. We met in college, young, naive, inexperienced – with a lot to offer and very little to lose. The kind of love that felt as if it would last forever – the kind of love we built on promises and fantasies. But that's the thing about young love, isn't it? It is often not based on anything other than imagination. We soon realized that something was missing. We carried on as if everything was fine, becoming both the envy and admiration of those around us. Perfect couple. Over time, that insignificant feeling grew and developed into a monster that we can no longer ignore. Sex is a messy process. A journey of discovery both of our partner and, more importantly, of ourselves. In our marriage, sex was a source of anxiety. Outside of this, it brought an inner sense of freedom. Growing up in a typical conservative Gujarati family, independence was not always a cherished ideal. Being gay and Indian is not a joyous journey with all its contradictions and strange hypocrisies, but the men I have met have stories to tell. Stories that gave me hope and reassurance. At home, I was taught to conform, to change myself, and not to question, to silence the part of me that would disrupt everything. We ultimately pushed each other toward discovery and experimentation, new experiences and happiness, and ultimately transformation. This film is an example of our love. I'm not interested in definitions or labels, but rather in feelings and experiences that can't be easily expressed. Working on this film has been a process of constantly going back and forth with my past. It's what I thought, it's what I felt. Now I am standing on the other side. This story is born out of my life, but it's not about me or him. It's about breaking down what we imagine love is, and reimagining the possibilities of what can happen when we let ourselves go.”

Director Raghuveer Joshi says, “The film is an intimate portrait of love and self-discovery that challenges the burden of family expectations and established gender roles in our society. It is a story that redefines our notions of love, exploring the complexity of sexuality and the freedom that comes from breaking conformism. With my film ‘Sahela’ I would also like to highlight that the deepest act of love is the power of letting go.”

Producer Tayyab Madani, Picture Works Australia, says, “Sahela is a testament to my deep connection with Sydney and the extraordinary talent behind it. As you step into the world of Western Sydney, you'll experience a unique insight into the South Asian diaspora. “This is a profound milestone for Picture Works Australia and me, and above all, celebrates the art of storytelling and the universal experience of love.”

Radhika Lavoo, Founder-Producer, of Elanaar Films, explains, “Within the sanctum of Elanaar, our endeavor is a continuous exploration of art free from boundaries. ‘Sahela’ stands as a testament to our commitment, a cinematic journey into the darkest corridors of the human heart, seen through a sensitive lens of socio-cultural awareness. It is a pleasure to unveil this multi-dimensional film that peels back the layers of life’s complexities, allowing hope to shine even in the most heartbreaking circumstances.”

The sound designer of the film 'Sahela' is Wayne Pashley, Editor Scott Gray, production designer Michael Turner, DOP Michael McDermott, composer Pierce Burbrook de Vere, and sitar player Niladri Kumar. The film is shot in Sydney, and it is produced by Picture Works Australia and Eleanor Films, India along with Pushpa producers Mythri Movie Makers, AB International Films, and Oscar nominee Dev Patel (Lion, Slumdog Millionaire) as executive producers. Are. The actors who have adorned director Raghuveer Joshi's film 'Sahela' are - Antonio Akil (Veer Ojha), Anula Navalekar (Nitya), Harish Patel (Amit Oja), Anita Patel (Jaya), Nicholas Brown (Makrand), Georgia Blizzard (Amanda), Gus Murray. (Nathan) Nicholas Burton (Josh) Saba Zaidi Abdi (Nani) Zain Ayub (Vishnu) Sheeba Chaddha (Leena Bahl) Vipin Sharma (Ashok Bahl) Saksham Sharma (Rishi) Ananya Dixit (Anu) Tai Hara (Jarome) Martin Harper (Brian )Miranda Daughtry (Jess) Wasim Khan (Dr. Parekh) etc.

-Shantiswarup Tripathi