Indian filmmaker Kanu Behl is developing Loving Anais, a star-crossed romance set in India and France, as a sequel to Cannes Directors Fortnight title Agra, which will be released theatrically in India.
“It’s kind of a mix of star-crossed romance and noir,” Bale told Variety. “Essentially, it’s about an Indian man who goes from Gurgaon to Bordeaux looking for someone. While looking for that person, his life takes a different turn and he falls in love with someone else, but they don’t speak each other’s language.”
This project is currently progressing towards its first draft and has secured support from the CNC Development Fund. William Jehanin (Agra) will produce.
Bale’s sexual drama “Agra” will receive a limited theatrical release in India through distribution company Mantra Luminosity, marking a significant milestone for the director, who has long wanted to reach local audiences.
The film follows Guru, a young single call center employee who still lives with his parents. Swallowed by frustration, he spirals into a near-insane fever between pathetic fantasies, dating apps, and hysterical self-harm. The film also explores the role that wealth can play in the emancipation of young people.
Starring debutant Mohit Agarwal as Guru, the film also stars Priyanka Bose, Ruhani Sharma, Vibha Chibber, Sonal Jha and Aanchal Goswami in important roles. Rahul Roy, known for playing romantic leads in 1990s films such as the blockbuster Aashiqui, plays Guru’s father.
“Making films for independent filmmakers doesn’t mean going to festivals,” says Bale, whose debut film Titli bowed in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes. “We wanted the Indian audience to see this film. In the end, the happiest moment for me is that no matter how small the release, no matter how limited the marketing, this film will be seen by Indian audiences all over the world, because this is truly an Indian story.”
The film will launch with a platform release strategy spanning 100 screens and approximately 150 shows, with plans to expand in subsequent weeks based on audience response.
Bale expresses his dissatisfaction with mainstream cinema’s infantilization of Indian audiences. “Ninety-five to 96 per cent of what we see on Indian screens…is Disneyfied, third-rate, fourth-rate, third-grade, fourth-grade, kids’ content,” he says. “I deeply believe that people want to see more complex content. In fact, they’re hungrier now than ever.”
With ‘Agra’, Bale aims to reach beyond the arthouse converted audience. “Our whole endeavor with Agra was to try a more organic, fundamental approach rather than a top-down approach,” he explains. “Even if it’s a little less authentic for the movie, for a broader audience, you’re competing against competition that’s grabbing your attention at a different rate.”
“What I’m trying to do with ‘Agra’ is to understand the type of film it is and try to fight bigger monsters in a different way, in a little more guerrilla way, even if it means losing maybe 5% or 10% of the credibility,” he added.
The film explores themes of sexual repression, desire, and trade in modern India. “This is a film that works at the interface between sexuality, sexual repression, the concept of space, how sexuality affects the spaces we live in, and how those spaces affect our sex lives,” Bale says.
He believes the film will resonate deeply with audiences who give it a chance. “The people in this film are a reflection of who we are today,” he says. “I think even for people who haven’t been interested in movies like this before, this is an opportunity to once again feel and reach that point that we knew before, that slightly enhanced state of being.”
‘Agra’ will be released in cinemas across India on November 14th.
