Himachal-Based Film ‘Khunta’ to Hit Theatres Nationwide on September 18.
Shimla:
‘Khunta’, a film that explores Himachal Pradesh’s culture, development and the destruction associated with unchecked change, while weaving together the stories of a woman and a river, will be released in cinemas across Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country on September 18.
Writer and director Anushi Sharma and producer Mukesh Modi were in Mandi on Saturday to promote the film and shared details about the project during a press conference. Sharma, a 32-year-old filmmaker from Sirmaur, said ‘Khunta’ was not merely a film but an attempt to tell a story rooted in the lives, experiences and traditions of ordinary people of Himachal Pradesh.
She said the film focuses on several interconnected themes, including Himachali culture, development and the destruction that can accompany it, as well as the relationship between a woman and a river. These different elements have been brought together through the symbolism of the ‘khunta’, or a fixed wooden post, which serves as an important metaphor in the film.
Sharma said cinema can play an important role in bringing significant social issues before a wider audience. Through ‘Khunta’, the filmmakers have attempted to raise questions about Himachal Pradesh’s cultural roots, its changing circumstances and the impact of development on people and their surroundings.
“The film is connected to the common people of Himachal and their roots,” Sharma said, urging audiences to watch it in theatres and engage with the issues and questions presented through the story.
Producer Mukesh Modi said the film has already travelled to several international platforms and received encouraging responses from audiences outside India as well. ‘Khunta’ has been screened at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received appreciation from viewers, he said.
According to Modi, the film has also won several awards at international and Indian film competitions. It received the Best Foreign Film award at the London Independent Film Awards, the Best Indian Feature Film award at the Indian Movie Awards and the Best Feature Film award in Las Vegas.
The film was recently screened in Norway, while two shows have also been held in New York. Modi said the response to the film at international screenings has been positive and that the team is hopeful that audiences in Himachal Pradesh and other parts of India will connect with its story.
The filmmakers said the film seeks to present Himachal Pradesh not merely as a scenic destination but as a living society with a distinct culture, traditions, people and natural environment that are undergoing rapid changes.
The press conference was attended by Raja Singh Malhotra, founder of the Himachal International Film Festival, Amit Bhatia, founder of Feet of Fire, along with members of the film’s cast and other members of the team.
With its focus on Himachal’s cultural identity, the consequences of development and the relationship between people and nature, ‘Khunta’ is set to arrive in theatres on September 18, giving audiences an opportunity to explore a story deeply rooted in the social and environmental realities of the hill state.
