Exclusive! IFFI Indian Panorama: Arindam ecstatic, Avijit proud with Mahananda and Tonic selection

Kannada film Prithvi Konanur’s Hadinelentu will be the Opening Indian Feature Film at the festival

Posters of Mahananda and Tonic

Arindam Sil’s Mahananda and Avijit Sen’s Tonic which features Dev and Paran Bandyopadhyay in the lead will be screened at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in the Indian Panorama. While Mahananda has Gargee RoyChowdhury in the lead, Tonic features an entertaining story of Dev and Paran Bandyopadhyay. The festival will be held between November 20 and 28 this year. Kannada film Prithvi Konanur’s Hadinelentu will be the Opening Indian Feature Film.

On Saturday, in a Ministry of Information & Broadcasting press statement, the names of 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films were announced. Besides Mahananda, Manish Mundra’s Siya, Ananth Mahadevan’s The Storyteller, and several other films are there on the list. On the other hand, Tonic, along with The Kashmir Files, RRR, and others, is a part of the Mainstream Films section.

An ecstatic Arindam said that this selection marks one of his greatest achievements. While talking exclusively with OTTplay, he said, “Initially, there were 354 films and out of all those only 25 are selected. Naturally, making it to the top 25 is great. I am immensely happy.”

Meanwhile, Dev and Paran Bandyopadhyay’s Tonic made it to the top five mainstream films. Producer Atanu Roychoudhuri said, “Tonic drew audiences to the theatres after the pandemic. That is amazing. Today’s news is very gratifying.” Director Avijit said, “The other films on the list, The Kashmir Files and RRR are two of the most successful pan-Indian films. A Bengali film being part of the list is a big thing for our industry. I am proud.”

Meanwhile, the press statement also stated, “The aim of the Indian Panorama, organised by National Film Development Corporation, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, is to select the feature and non-feature films of cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence in accordance with the conditions and procedure in the said regulations of Indian Panorama.”

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