“A spare, affecting thriller... in the tradition of great detective films, Pooja, Sir builds to a resolution that does more than simply answer whodunit.”
— Tim Grierson,
“An accomplished examination of power… Pooja, Sir presents a unique blend of social realism and Hollywood thriller aesthetics."”
— Siddhant Adlankha,
“A bold women’s ensemble elevates Deepak Rauniyar’s socio-political film to greater heights, like a shooting star sparkling with amazement in one of the Venice Film Festival’s most remarkable and must-watch entries this year.”
— Niikhiil Akhiil,
ABOUT THE FILM
LONG SYNOPSIS
When two boys are kidnapped in a border town in Nepal, Detective Inspector Pooja is sent from Kathmandu to solve the case, forcing her to leave her wife and her ailing father behind. But when she arrives to investigate, the brewing political unrest and violent protests throw her off course, and she is forced to seek help from Mamata, a local Madhesi policewoman. By putting aside systemic racial and homophobic discrimination and pushing through everyday misogyny, the women solve the case—but at what personal cost? Inspired by real events which took place in Southern Nepal during the 2015 race protests.
Director Deepak Rauniyar
Writers Deepak Rauniyar, David Barker, Asha Magrati
Producers Asha Magrati, Rambabu Gurung, Alan R Milligan
Executive Producers Joslyn Barnes, Anurag Kashyap, Dayahang Rai, Niraj Shrestha, Purna Sing Baraili, Pratap Das, Susan Rockefeller, Mainram Pokhrel, Min Bham
Co-Producers Jeremy Chua, Tang Yi
Editors J. Him Lee, Alex Gurvits
Cinematographer Sheldon Chau
Production Designer Aki Thekpa
Costume Designer Janaki Kadayat
Sound Samrat Khanal, Leandros Ntounis
Music Vivek Maddala
Cast Asha Magrati, Nikita Chandak, Dayahang Rai, Bijay Baral, Aarti Mandal, Reecha Sharma, Ghanshyam Mishra, Parmeshwor Kumar Jha, Gaumaya Gurung, Pashupati Rai, Niraj Shrestha
FESTIVALS
2024: Venice (World Premiere), Busan
AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
The World
EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP, Digital Download
PRESS KIT
Download Press Kit
AVAILABLE PRESS IMAGES (click to preview)
