Huma Qureshi leads police drama ‘Bayaan’ at Asian Project Market in Busan

Huma Qureshi (“Gangs of Wasseypur”) stars in “Bayaan” (The Testimony), a police drama that has completed filming and is participating in the Busan Asian Project Market.

The film is directed by Bikas Ranjan Mishra, whose debut film “Chauranga” won awards at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and the Mumbai Film Festival. It is a co-production between Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One Films, Madhu Sharma’s Summit Studios and producers Kunal Kumar and Anshuman Singh. Bora is known for supporting films such as Newton (India’s 2018 Oscar entry) and Picasso (Prime Video India’s first Marathi-language direct-to-digital acquisition).

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The film focuses on a female detective investigating her first case as a lead investigator in a small town in Rajasthan. Due to her opponent’s deep-rooted influence in the system, she faces significant challenges while trying to live up to her father’s legendary reputation in law enforcement.

The cast also includes Chandrachur Singh (“Maachis”), Sachin Khedekar (“Sita Ramam”), Avijit Dutt (“Piku”), Shampa Mandal (“Sonchiriya”), Priti Shukla, Vibhor Mayank and Aditi Kanchan Singh.

Mishra told diversity“I started working on ‘Bayaan’ around the same time the world was experiencing the impact of the #MeToo movement. The story takes place in the countryside, where there is no internet or social media. What’s worse is that the women are dealing with a system of abuse that has the blessing of those who control the country’s power structure.”

“’Bayaan’ is an examination of the patriarchy that is deeply rooted in our society. “I don’t want to convey a message but rather make the audience feel how it touches us on a deeper, emotional level,” Mishra added.

Qureshi, who is playing a police officer for the first time, said, “I choose stories that speak to me. I always try to dabble in different genres… and if it helps me experiment as an actor then I want to be a part of it. When Bayaan came to me, I was fascinated by its milieu, the role, the narrative of the film and the sheer passion of the makers to bring this story to the forefront.”

“I wanted to understand what it means to be a protector who helps ensure justice as part of the system. “Bayaan” not only helped me discover a new aspect of myself as an actor, but it also showed me what it means to be a law enforcer in a small town in Rajasthan,” Qureshi added.

Bora said, “We strongly believe that ‘Bayaan’ is a global film. Its universal themes and compelling narrative make it a strong contender at prestigious international film festivals. We at Platoon One Films are always looking for that one script that will be a breakout film for everyone involved. Our job is to support the director’s vision and empower him to create a film that takes us places. Our motto is “Newer Stories, Newer Voices.” “Bayaan” embodies this spirit perfectly.”

On her goals for the Busan Asian Project Market, Bora said: “Our focus is on maximizing the value of our existing film offerings, acquiring new projects that align with our company’s motto, and building strategic partnerships that enhance our company’s position globally will strengthen.”

The project was supported by the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund and was developed at the LA Residency as part of Film Independent’s Global Media Makers program. During the residency, Mishra was mentored by Craig Mazin (“Chernobyl”) and received script advice from writer Jeff Stockwell and story editor Ruth Atkinson.

Principal photography was completed in early September and the film is currently in post-production under the direction of A. Sreekar Prasad.

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