Saurav Rai presents 'Lanka' at Hong Kong film forum

Indian filmmaker Saurav Rai will present his latest project, "Lanka," at the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum. This forum runs alongside the Hong Kong FilMart, a major film market. "Lanka" is a Hindi-language drama focused on a 12-year-old boy named Shiv. He faces bullying at school because of his family's old van. As the story progresses, Shiv's father, Krishna, wants to purchase a new van but struggles financially. This leads him to make difficult choices. In a separate event, a karate match between Shiv and his friend Simon ends badly, causing injury. This incident sparks a feud between their families, escalating into a psychological battle of revenge. Rai shared that filmmaking allows him to express feelings that are important to him. He feels a deeper connection to "Lanka" since becoming a father last year. The film explores themes like guilt, parenting, class division, and the cycle of revenge. Rai mentioned that his own childhood guilt influenced this story, stemming from an incident where he unintentionally hurt a friend during a martial arts session. Rai's previous film, "Guras," won a jury prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. His first feature film, "Nimtoh," received recognition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Co-producer Ankita Purkayastha, who is also a sound designer, noted their lasting relationship with Rai's projects, driven by shared passion. The team has secured about 25% of their target budget of $1.1 million. Co-producer Viraj Selot mentioned they are in discussions with well-known Indian actors. At the financing forum, the producers aim to attract international partners. They believe the film's themes resonate globally, reflecting universal struggles in parenting and the need for compassion.