The International Film Festival of India on Sunday hosted an engaging cross-genre press conference featuring the cast and crew of three diverse films — Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness, Mukkam Post Bombilwadi and Sikaar. The session brought together filmmakers from different regions and storytelling traditions, offering insight into their creative processes, thematic choices and experiences at the festival.
The interaction opened with Sikaar, where director Debangkar Borgohain paid an emotional tribute to lead actor and musician Zubeen Garg, who passed away recently. Borgohain recalled their long association and said he had initially approached Garg only for the film’s music. “He heard the story and said he wanted to act. This is the last film of his to release while he was with us,” he said. He also spoke about the unique production journey, noting that Sikaar is the first Assamese film to be extensively shot abroad, with nearly 70 per cent filmed in London. With most team members unable to travel, Borgohain directed portions remotely from Guwahati, a challenge he described with humour. He added that although OTT platforms provide wider reach, regional films still struggle for adequate visibility.
The team of Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness shifted the tone to wonder and patience. Associate Producer Adarsh N C described the process of filming wildlife in 8K and 12K across a biosphere shaped over billions of years. “The stars of our film are the wildlife. They don’t arrive on time. There are no retakes,” he said, noting that capturing a single shot sometimes took months. The documentary also explores coexistence, focusing on species living in close proximity to human habitation. Team member Sri Harsha spoke about the uncertainty inherent in filming wild animals and the importance of real-time research support. On influences from global giants, the team emphasised that Nilgiris is a completely Indian-made production, shaped by local talent and technology. They said that while OTT enquiries are ongoing, the film was designed for the big screen and deserves to be experienced that way.
The makers of Mukkam Post Bombilwadi brought humour and historical satire to the session. Director Paresh Mokashi and producer Bharat Shitole discussed adapting their original stage play into a film set in 1942, where a coastal Maharashtrian village becomes entangled in the freedom movement and the turbulence of World War II. Paresh said that comedy can offer sharp insight even against serious backdrops, adding that humour often reveals truths more effectively. Asked about OTT’s role in supporting regional cinema, he said that audiences at home must back local films before they can find traction globally. Shitole agreed, saying that although OTT has expanded opportunities, regional films still need better visibility on major platforms.