Saand Ki Aankh to close the 21st Mumbai Film Festival

A day before it releases in theatres, Tushar Hiranandani’s directorial debut Saand Ki Aankh (2019) will be the closing film at the 21st Mumbai Film Festival on 24 October. The film, starring Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar, tells the story of Chandro Tomar and Prakashi Tomar who took up the sport of sharpshooting late in their years.

The female-led film, set in Johri, Uttar Pradesh in the early 1990s, goes up against patriarchy and ageism. Through sharpshooting, the Tomars encouraged their daughters and the rest of the young women in their village. Together, the two women won around 352 medals, both nationally and internationally, as professional sharpshooters.

Besides Pannu and Pednekar, the film stars filmmaker-actor Prakash Jha, Vineet Kumar Singh, Nikhat Khan and Shaad Randhawa.

In press release, director Tushar Hirandani said, "It's a matter of great pride for me and my entire team that my first directorial film will be screened at MAMI's closing ceremony. I'm positively hopeful that it will be loved by the audiences at the prestigious festival."

Smriti Kiran, Mumbai Film Festival's artistic director, stated, "Always ready to get behind women finding their voice and kicking patriarchy in the face. Saand Ki Aankh is a true story. A line in the film that I think hits the spot and will find resonance with women, 'Ek baat batao tai, ki khao tum dono? Nishana bilkul seedha laga ho! [What diet are you two on? You both have a perfect aim] Gaali! [Abuses]'. Delighted that we can end the festival with an inspiring homegrown story of triumph."

Presented by Reliance Entertainment and Anurag Kashyap, Saand Ki Aankh is due to be released in theatres on 25 October.