Anurag Kashyap Presents “Songs of Forgotten Trees” at Venice Film Festival

Mumbai, July 23  – Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is set to present Songs of Forgotten Trees, the directorial debut of Anuparna Roy, which will have its world premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. Kashyap expressed his long-standing support for new talent, particularly those who challenge norms with fresh ideas.

Kashyap said, “I have always believed in backing new talent, especially those who want to say something different and challenge the set norms by their ideas and beliefs.”

The Venice Film Festival, running from August 27 to September 9, will showcase Songs of Forgotten Trees as India’s only selection in the prestigious Horizons strand. Previous Indian films featured in the same category include Court by Chaitanya Tamhane and Stolen by Karan Tejpal.

Kashyap, along with producer Ranjan Singh, has been involved with several groundbreaking films over the years and expressed excitement about supporting Roy’s debut. “Anuparna is definitely one such voice, and we feel proud and happy to back her first feature,” he added.

The film stars Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel and follows Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress in Mumbai who navigates her life by using her beauty and wit. When she sublets her wealthy sugar daddy’s apartment to another migrant, Swetha, the two women from different worlds start to share more than just space.

Kashyap and Singh have previously collaborated on projects like Little Thomas and Tiger’s Pond, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival.

Roy, who has a passion for stories often ignored by mainstream cinema, said, “I want to change the narrative, especially stories of the marginalized – those excluded by class, caste, and gender. I believe telling these stories might give voice to the unheard.”

The inspiration for the film stems from Roy’s search for her childhood friend Jhuma Nath, whose life was shaped by child marriage under India’s societal and governmental issues.

Producer Ranjan Singh praised Roy as a “unique voice” after seeing her short film Run to the River and hearing her pitch. “I am happy her debut film is premiering at Venice, and I am confident it will make a mark on audiences worldwide,” he said.