Huma Qureshi (“Gangs of Wasseypur”) stars in “Bayaan,” (The Testimony) a police drama that has wrapped shooting and is participating in Busan‘s Asian Project Market.
The film is directed by Bikas Ranjan Mishra, whose debut feature “Chauranga” won accolades at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and the Mumbai Film Festival. It is a co-production between Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One Films, Madhu Sharma’s Summit Studios and producers Kunal Kumar and Anshuman Singh. Bora is known for backing films like “Newton” (India’s 2018 Oscar entry) and “Picasso” (Prime Video India’s first Marathi-language direct-to-digital acquisition).
The film centers on a female detective investigating her first case as lead investigator in a small Rajasthan town. She faces significant challenges due to her opponent’s deep-rooted influence within the system, while also striving to live up to her father’s legendary reputation in law enforcement.
The cast also includes Chandrachur Singh (“Maachis”), Sachin Khedekar (“Sita Ramam”), Avijit Dutt (“Piku”), Shampa Mandal (“Sonchiriya”), Priti Shukla, Vibhor Mayank and Aditi Kanchan Singh.
Mishra told Variety, “I started working on ‘Bayaan’ around the same time when the world was witnessing the impact of the #MeToo movement. The story is set in the countryside, where the internet and social media are nonexistent. Even worse, the women are up against a system of abuse that has the blessing of those who control the power structure of the country.”
“‘Bayaan’ is a scrutiny of patriarchy that’s engrained in our society. I don’t want to deliver any message but to make the audience feel how it affects us at a deeper, emotional level,” Mishra added.
Qureshi, who plays a cop for the first time, said, “I choose stories which resonate with me. I am always looking to dabble in different genres … and if it helps me experiment as an actor then I do want to be part of it. When ‘Bayaan’ came to me, I was intrigued by its milieu, the role, the film’s narrative and the sheer passion of the makers to bring this story to the fore.”
“I wanted to understand what it meant to be a protector who aids in the delivery of justice as part of the system. ‘Bayaan’ helped me in not just exploring a new aspect in me as an actor but was an education in what it means to be a law enforcer in a small town in Rajasthan,” Qureshi added.
Bora said, “We firmly believe that ‘Bayaan’ is a global film. Its universal themes and compelling narrative make it a strong contender for prestigious international film festivals. We at Platoon One Films are always looking for that one script that will be a breakout film for everyone involved. Our job is to back the director’s vision and empower him to create a film that will take us places. Our motto is ‘Newer Stories, Newer Voices.’ ‘Bayaan’ perfectly embodies this spirit.”
Regarding their goals for the Busan Asian Project Market, Bora said, “Our focus is on maximizing the value of our existing film slate, acquiring new projects that align with our company’s motto, and forging strategic partnerships that will elevate our company’s position globally.”
The project has received support from the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund and was developed at LA Residency, part of Film Independent’s Global Media Makers program. During the residency, Mishra was mentored by Craig Mazin (“Chernobyl”) and received script advice from writer Jeff Stockwell and story editor Ruth Atkinson.
Principal photography concluded in early September, with the film currently in post-production under editor A. Sreekar Prasad.
Bikas Ranjan Mishra, Shiladitya Bora
