Marathi film Killa Bags the Crystal Bear award for the best feature film at Berlin Film Festival, a first for an Indian film

Chennai: The Marathi feature film, Killa which premiered recently at the prestigious film festival, Berlinale has bagged the top award,…

KILLA-BOLLYWOODDHAMAKAChennai: The Marathi feature film, Killa which premiered recently at the prestigious film festival, Berlinale has bagged the top award, Gläsernen Bär (The Crystal Bear) for the best feature film and also got the Special Mention from the International Jury of KPlus.

Killa is the third Marathi film to be selected in Berlinale in its entire history and it is the first Indian feature film to win this much coveted award.

Produced by  Madhukar R Musle, Ajay G Rai, Alan McAlex under the banner, Jar Pictures and presented by M R Filmworks,  the film was a part of NFDC Film Bazaar’s Work-in-Progress (WIP) Lab in 2013. Jar Pictures’ film “Liar’s Dice” starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui earlier this year was in Sundance Film Festival 2014 in World Dramatics Competition section.

The producer Ajay G  Rai says, “The recognition from Berlinale underlines our faith and commitment to produce quality cinema. We feel honoured and proud to represent Indian cinema on global platform.” Talking about why he believed in the film Ajay adds, “Killa is a heartfelt and sensitive portrayal of emotions  and I feel everyone will identify with the characters.We are looking to release the film this summer in May.”

The ecstatic first time director and FTII graduate, Avinash shares his feelings on winning the award. “It’s a wonderful feeling. I am completely overwhelmed by how children reacted to the film. I think the film reached to it its audience where it belongs to. I am so thankful to Berlinale for providing us this platform to showcase our culture” says Avinash who has also shot the film. He has earlier worked on Kai Po Che and is currently working as the Director of Photography for Nishikant Kamat’s next starring Irrfan Khan.

About the film:

Starring Amruta Subhash (of Vihir fame which featured in Berlinale 2010), Archit Deodhar, Parth Bhalerao (Stars in Bhootnath Returns) and Shrikant Yadav, Killa deals with the universal conflict of migration and how it impacts the lives of people, especially children. The story revolves around a young boy Chinu who finds it difficult to adjust to his new surroundings where he has migrated to, after his father’s death. But gradually he makes new friends and gains more confidence.

Killa is slated for India release this May.