Prataya Saha Short Film Screenings and Q&A

Award Winning Filmmaker Prataya Saha is touring the UK with his critically acclaimed short films, Just Another Day (2021), I am Mehmood (2022) and the recent worldwide film festivals entry The Golden Cage (2023). Join us to celebrate independent filmmaking with a rare opportunity to watch these unique films together, discuss the important themes and questions they raise with filmmaker Prataya Saha.

Panel discussants: filmmaker Prataya Saha, Amandeep Dhillon (ReeIN), Anuj Radia (Filme Shilmy) followed by Q&A

The Golden Cage - Bengali with English subtitles, rated PG

Mein Mehmood - Urdu with English subtitles, rated PG

Just Another Day - Hindi with English subtitles, rated 15 (a reference to domestic abuse and suicide)

The event is hosted by SOAS South Asia Institute, University of London and is supported by ReelN Ltd, Filme Shilmy, and The London Bengali Film Festival. SOAS University room details will be provided by email closer to event date.

Films:

The Golden Cage (2023) 
Faced with incredible financial pressure, the remaining three members of a once affluent family debate selling off their palatial ancestral home in old Kolkata, with the eldest among them firmly against it. This is a period piece set in 1989, during a time of significant socio-economic changes in India, touching, at a macro level, on a very personal subject - the fate of unprotected old and heritage structures and their rapid extinction in modern India. The film also illustrates a sense of nostalgia and throws light on the dynamics of social relationships in Indian society a few decades ago.

I am, Mehmood (2022):
Mehmood, an Asian immigrant in Dubai struggles to meet his monthly sales target due to his lack of skills in communicating in a popular language (in this case English) and thus risks losing his job while, a thousand miles away, his wife waits for him to send across the money for her daughter’s education.

Just Another Day (2021)
Just another day is a modern neo-realist film that draws attention to inarguably one of the topics of modern times that has not been talked about much, abuse during pregnancy and the perception of separated/divorced women in society. Through the happenings of a single day, the story traces the life of a 40-something newly separated woman, Anjali Katekar, as she navigates another 24 hours of her life in the busy city of Mumbai,

About Prataya Saha:

Prataya Saha is an independent filmmaker, Tedx performer, theatre director & photographer.
His films have been selected in 95+ film festivals worldwide, winning 27 awards in 14 countries, including the Oscars, Canadian Screen Award & BAFTA Qualifying festivals.

Most of his films hover around subjects with a strong social message, sometimes the ones that are uncomfortable but important. His film on abuse during pregnancy, "Just Another Day" premiered in New York in 2021 and was specially curated by Indiana University.

Alaska Airlines recently acquired his last film, "I am, Mehmood" as part of their in-flight entertainment. It also won the best film award at the prestigious FIAPF-accredited Kolkata International Film Festival on December 2022.