MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024: Day 2 Highlights

Here are the highlights from Day 2 of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024:

Masterclass With Shabana Azmi

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi, recently honored with the ‘Excellence in Cinema Award’ by MAMI, participated in a masterclass moderated by the versatile Vidya Balan. It was an enriching experience to hear Shabana discuss her remarkable 50-year journey in cinema. Reflecting on the challenges of performing in theater, she recalled a particularly memorable instance where she had to translate an English play into Hindi at the last moment, due to a language barrier for the audience. She also revealed how she enjoyed working with Mahesh Bhatt on Arth which was made without a proper script in place.

Girls Will Be Girls

Richa Chaddha makes her debut as a producer with Shuchi Talati’s directorial venture Girls Will Be Girls, which was screened on the inaugural day of MAMI’s South Asia Competition, attended by Richa and her husband, Ali Fazal. The film tells the story of 16-year-old Mira, the first female prefect at a strict Himalayan boarding school, who harbors a risky secret: a forbidden romance with Sri, the charming new student. When Mira’s mother, Anila, discovers their relationship, she unexpectedly allows Sri to visit their home, creating a safe space for Mira to meet her boyfriend and forging an unexpected alliance between mother and daughter—until their differing perspectives ultimately clash.

Despatch

Manoj Bajpayee’s film Despatch premiered as part of the Gala Premieres, with Shabana Azmi in attendance. The screening was followed by a Q&A session featuring the cast, including Bajpayee, Shahana Goswami, Arrchita Agarwaal, and director Kanu Behl. The film follows timid yet tenacious tabloid journalist Joy Bag, who faces a mid-life crisis and struggles with dwindling stories and job security in the digital age. His fortunes shift dramatically when he becomes embroiled in a dangerous corporate-political scandal, exposing a world of corruption and deceit. Kanu Behl’s third feature is a gripping investigative thriller, capturing the gritty essence of Mumbai with striking cinematography and a compelling performance by Bajpayee.