Arms Of A Man India, United Kingdom

Arms Of A Man

India, United Kingdom | Marathi | Drama, Romance

Budget USD 200,000 Financing in place USD 100,000 Production Company Lotus Visual Productions lotusvisualpro.com Present at Film Bazaar Rohan Kanawade Neeraj Churi Looking for Post Production Partners Sales/Sales Agents

Synopsis

Anand (30), a call-center employee in Mumbai, is forced to spend ten days at his ancestral village, to mourn the loss of his father at his mother Suman’s (50) behest. As the mourning period begins post-cremation, Anand faces subtle but relentless badgering from relatives to get married. Anand misses his father, his biggest emotional support. His mother, aware of his sexuality and recent failed relationship, remains neutral. Anand finds solace in his childhood friend Balya (30), and invites to accompany him on daily outings into the mountains to herd goats. Balya has been using the ‘educated girls favoring city-dwellers over farmers’ as a ruse to stay unmarried, as he undergoes similar pressures from his family. To escape their pressures, the two men spend time together. Hailing from different worlds, they connect over their common struggle. With each passing day, their intimacy blooms emotionally and physically. With the mourning period ending, will their burgeoning bond survive beyond the ten days? Arms of a Man explores the delicate bonds that develop under duress and the future of it.

Growing up gay in Mumbai’s slums, I was accepted by my parents. Mourning my father’s death in my ancestral village with extended family was frustrating. Instead of freely mourning my loss, I was constantly shielding my sexuality and avoiding marriage pressures. I adapted my lived experiences and combined intimacy with an equally tormented male character. The tender love that gradually bloomed and helped both men heal themselves. Arms of a Man is a journey of healing mentally and emotionally. For authentic representation of lower middle-class queer experiences in India, I will cast nonprofessional actors from Maharashtra’s farming community. I will shoot at actual locations with still frames and long takes to bring the essence of the lingering mourning period and slow rural life. The film will have no score. I want to create the protagonists’ urban and rural worlds through meticulous soundscapes which will elevate this gentle story.

Director(s)’ Biography

Rohan Parashuram Kanawade is a self-made filmmaker with a background in interior design. His filmography includes short film Ektya Bhinti (2013) (‘Best Emerging Filmmaker’ at KASHISH MIQFF), Khidkee (2017) (48th Indian Panorama Section of IFFI, Goa), U Ushacha (2019) (Winner of 10 awards, including the ‘Satyajit Ray Short Film Award’, screening at 35+ film festivals internationally, with an Indian theatrical release in January 2020, currently streaming on BFI Player, UK). Arms of a Man, his debut feature film, was part of Film London Production Finance Market New-TalentStrand, 2021 Marathi Scriptwriting Camp by MFSCDC and NFDC, and Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022-23 batch.

Rohan Kanawade Director

Producer(s)’ Biography

Neeraj began producing South Asian LGBTQ+ movies in 2017 after realizing how few opportunities the community had to tell its stories on screen. He sponsors and promotes queer cinema through theatrical/ corporate screenings and film festival curation. An alumnus of NYFA, he holds degrees in information science with experience working with top-tier financial institutions in NY and London.

His filmography includes Ek Jagah Apni (NFDC Goes to Cannes 2022), Queer Parivaar (IRIS Prize 2022 Best British Short winner), Muhafiz (IRIS Prize 2022 Best British Short nominee), Sheer Qorma (Winner of 60+ international awards, including Oscar/BAFTA qualifying festivals), My Mother’s Girlfriend (Winner Best Short Film at IDSFFK 2021), U for Usha (Winner of 10 international awards) and Sisak (Winner of 60 international awards).

Neeraj Churi Producer

(+44) 7530909523 vision@lotusve.com