Film on Covid lockdown, helmed by Nainital girl, wins at Spain fest

NAINITAL: 'Bahadur the brave', a film set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 lockdown, won the prestigious 'Kutxabank - New Directors Award' at the 71st San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain on Sunday.

The film, helmed by debutante director, Diwa Shah, tells the story of a Nepalese migrant labourer who sees an opportunity to earn more money for his ailing son during the Covid-induced labour crisis when other labourers from Nepal, who are working in a hill town in India, are rushing to return to their own country. At the suggestion of his brother-in-law, he takes up illegal work in a godown and gets into trouble. Speaking to TOI from Spain, Shah, who hails from Nainital, said, "I am deeply grateful to the people back home in the hills who were ready to share their stories and helped us make the film."

The festival has in past screened a host of landmark Indian films like Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay, Satyajit Ray's Charulata and Mrinal Sen's Antareem among others.