Principal photography on the Bengali thriller Cheredra, written and directed by Sheeraditya Moulik, is scheduled to begin on March 1.
The India-US co-production, starring Swastika Mukherjee, will be shot in Itanagar and Ziro in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Mourik’s previous films include Sweater and Surjo, but the film centers on a flawed, scarred, and widely misunderstood divorced woman named Brishti who impulsively “steals” her daughter for her birthday, only to discover that the child has actually been kidnapped. An unexpected discovery sets in motion a volatile chain of events that propels Brishti on a life-changing journey. The film centers on a morally complex female protagonist, interweaving family drama, thriller elements, and dark humour, and is targeted at the international festival circuit.
“‘Cheledra’ is the story of traumatized parents who discover courage and selflessness they never knew they had,” Mourik said. “I’m deeply interested in flawed people who are still able to love. This film may unfold like a journey with unexpected twists and turns, but at its heart it’s about healing, and how children unwittingly become adults’ moral compasses. It’s a very intimate story about second chances and rediscovering humanity.”
Mukherjee brings extensive character work to the role, with credits including Dibakar Banerjee’s Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! He played a gangster in Yash Raj Films’ Telluride and Toronto title ‘Janala’ directed by Buddhadeb Dasgupta, the Prime Video series ‘Paatal Lok’, Netflix’s ‘Qala’ and most recently ZEE5’s ‘Kaali Potka’.
“Brishti is not an easy woman to fall in love with. That’s what touched me,” Mukherjee said. “She is impulsive, hurt, and deeply flawed, but her love for her daughter is instinctive and fierce. I was drawn to her vulnerability, how this unexpected journey forces her to confront herself. At its core, this is a very tender story about motherhood, forgiveness, and finding strength in the most fragile moments.”
The film is being co-produced by India’s Handyman and Sita22 Films, which operates across India. Handyman’s previous works include the streaming show “Hawa Badr Has” and the India-Italy-Switzerland co-production film “Interdependence.” Sita22 Films is a new production company founded by Anindita (Ann) Mukherjee, who spent 40 years as a global corporate executive.
“Sealditya and I go back to our early advertising days. His first NFDC Film Bazaar in 2014 with ‘Mrs. Scooter’ was his first feature film and it built a strong creative shorthand between us,” said handyman Protike Mojumdar. “When I read Cheredra, I had a strong instinct to be a part of it because the script had such emotional depth and commercial energy, and the swastika was added early on that I knew we had a winner.”
Anne Mukherjee said, “Through my 40 years as an executive at global companies such as PepsiCo, SC Johnson, and Pernod Ricard, I have seen firsthand that creativity is the oxygen for growth.” It appealed to me because it puts them at the center of their emotions and depicts both their vulnerability and resilience. Funding and co-producing this film reflects the socially conscious, emotionally layered stories I want in my new work.” Turn production companies into advocates to give a voice to the innocent and voiceless. ”
Italian cinematographer Vincenzo Condorelli, whose credits include Cobalt Blue and Song of Paradise, will shoot the film in the dramatic terrain of the Giro Valley. The crew includes line producer Sven Kumar Das (Chitrangada), creative producer Jitin Hingorani (Call Me Dancer), production designer Somanwita Bhattacharya (The Hunt) and costume designer Ajopa Mukherjee (Fish, Sweets, and More). Production is scheduled to run until the end of March, and additional cast members have not yet been announced.
