Varanasi to Venice for Shubhashish Bhutiani’s Mukti Bhawan

Young talent Shubhashish Bhutiani was knocking at the Oscar gates with his very first short film ‘Kush’ being shortlisted for the 2014 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. The short film went on to win the Orrizonti Prize for Best Short Film at its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival including the prestigious National Award and a further 25 international awards.  And now the 25-year-old has wowed Venice once again with his debut feature film – ‘Mukti Bhawan’ (Hotel Salvation) – that premiered there recently. The film got a 10 minute standing ovation at the premiere.

Mukti Bhawan

Thrilled with his film being lined alongside the best in world cinema, an elated Shubhashish says, “It’s a great honour for any filmmaker to have a world premiere of their film at such an acclaimed film festival, and more so for me since ‘Mukti Bhawan’ is my first feature film.”

While the filmmaker is no novice at the festival, this time around he admits to being more excited about his Venice outing. “It’s a warm father-son story, very rooted in India so I am looking forward to seeing how international audience abroad receives my film. Whilst the film is set in Varanasi, the story is extremely universal in appeal and that’s what makes it so interesting.

Mukti Bhawan

Starring powerhouse performers Adil Hussain, Lalit Behl and Geetanjali Kulkarni, Palomi Gosh amongst others, the story of the film was shortlisted in the top 10 from over 400 entries worldwide and has been developed by the La Biennale di Venezia.

Mukti Bhawan

A Red Carpet Moving Pictures Film, Producers Sajida Sharma, Sanjay Bhutiani, Executive Producer Dina Dattani.