Imphal: Romi Meitei is heading to Kerala. His latest film, Whispers of the Shadow (Nashon Pikna), landed a spot in the Indian Cinema Now section at the 31st International Film Festival of Kerala. The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy confirmed the lineup this Friday. The festival kicks off this December.
The film tracks village children who find a gun in the foothills. Their bond quickly sours into a deadly encounter. Producers Romi Meitei and Dr. Thangjam Dhabali Singh backed the project. The cast includes Shushma, Pradnn, Adison, Tiernan, Manda Leima, Khaba, Soma, Roshan, Shanti, and Bhumeshwar. Meitei handled the screenplay and lyrics himself.
Meitei remains a force in independent film. His prior work, Ekhoigi Yum, earned global praise, including the FIPRESCI Award for Best International Film at IFFK. The academy notes his ongoing work reflects local struggles. As the academy stated, his films "engage with contemporary realities while remaining rooted in the lived experiences of the people of Manipur."
Six other films join the Indian Cinema Now section. These include Hunter’s Moon by Ridham Janve, Master Bantoo by Arsh Jain, and Urmi by Deba Prasad Behera. Also screening are An Evening Ballad by Bishal Swargiary, The Ink Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb by Yashasvi Juval, and Rehmat by Gurvinder Singh.
The festival also set the stage for the International Competition. Expect entries from China, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Iran, Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan, Uruguay, and Bangladesh. Four Indian titles complete that list: Padayaatra, Chevittorma, Selvi, and Members of the Problematic Family. Meanwhile, the Malayalam Cinema Today section will showcase 12 films, including work by Arun Verghese and Don Palathara. The academy also launched a Critics Discovery section to push Malayalam cinema onto the world stage.
Comments