Aarya co-director Vinod Rawat’s debut feature Pushtaini to make its South Asia premiere in Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023

Vinod Rawat is showing his first-ever movie, “Pushtaini,” for the first time in South Asia at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023. This film falls under the category of South Asian and South Asian diaspora films, which don’t compete with each other. The festival is scheduled from October 27 to November 5, 2023.

“Pushtaini” is all about Bhuppi, who’s trying hard to become an actor. He ends up in a really embarrassing situation and is super eager to make it big in showbiz. But there’s a twist! He has to go back home and confront his past. While traveling through the mountains, he has some interesting adventures with strangers, not knowing what’s in store for him.

This movie is Vinod’s first time wearing multiple hats; he’s the actor, director, writer, and producer. He filmed it in his ancestral village in Uttarakhand and used regular folks from his own family as actors. Rita Heer, who co-wrote the movie, also plays an important character in it.

Vinod became famous for a series called “Aarya,” which was nominated for the International Emmy Awards. He worked on it with Ram Madhvani. He also wrote and directed a short film called “MAD.” Vinod graduated from FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) and is a big deal as an acting coach. He’s coached famous people like Hrithik Roshan, Sushmita Sen, and Sonam Kapoor.

Rajkummar Rao plays a cameo role in Vinod Rawat’s debut feature Pushtaini

Vinod is thrilled about the MAMI premiere and says, “Pushtaini is a really personal project for me. I got the idea when I visited my family’s village in Uttarakhand and saw that many homes were empty because everyone had moved to the city for better jobs.” He adds, “It’s extra special that my first big project is premiering in India at the prestigious Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, especially in a city that’s also my ‘karm bhumi’ (a place of work).”

The producer, Ankit Gandhi, believes the movie deals with important themes like sadness, family bonds, hope, and determination. As an independent production company, they want to support unique voices and stories. They’re excited to be part of such a fantastic lineup at one of India’s top film festivals.

The movie is made by Lotus Dust Pictures and VinRaw Films.

Summary:

“Pushtaini” is a movie about a struggling Bollywood actor who faces a major crisis. To save his career and reputation, he has to go back to his family’s home in the mountains of Uttarakhand, which is full of childhood memories and secrets. It’s a dramedy that explores the relationship between a working-class father and his son, Bhuppi while tackling ideas of masculinity and family dynamics.