After a successful inaugural edition last year in Mumbai, BookMyShow’s Red Lorry Film Festival is back and this time, apart from going for ‘Take Two’ in Mumbai, the festival’s Parallel Verse debuted in Hyderabad.
In Mumbai’s Maison INOX at Jio World Plaza and Maison PVR at Jio World Drive, BKC, the festival opened with the premiere of September 5, and the weekend drew to a close with the Asia premiere of One To One: John & Yoko. Over 120 films were showcased. Vikramaditya Motwane, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Atul Sabharwal, Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Kaveree Bamzai and Prachee Shah Paandya along with honorary juror Ashish Hemrajani unveiled Paul and Paulette Take a Bath and Souleymane’s Story as winners of the prestigious Competition Segment of the film festival while I am Nevanka was selected as the Critics’ Pick by Mayank Shekhar, Anna M.M. Vetticad and Alaka Sahani.
The lineup of films included Anora, Se7en, The Last Showgirl, Caligula: The Ultimate Cut, The French Connection, Heat and Carol Doda: Topless at the Condor.
Honouring the legacy of Smita Patil on her 70th birth anniversary, the festival screened Mirch Masala with Prateik Smita Patil and Director Ketan Mehta, in attendance to celebrate her contributions to Indian cinema. Aamir Khan joined the celebrations for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Vikramaditya Motwane for Udaan, and Pooja Bedi chatted with Mansoor Khan for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.
The festival also played host to exclusive masterclasses. Academy Award-winning producer Guneet Monga shared insights on navigating the global festival circuit, while Siddharth Roy Kapur and Alok Tandon explored the evolving entertainment landscape. Acclaimed directors Akarsh Khurana and Sooni Taraporevala discussed the delicate balance between theatrical and streaming content, and legendary screenwriter Anjum Rajabali deep-dived into the art of storytelling. Sunir Kheterpal hosted a session on adapting foreign films for the Indian audience, while Komal Nahta, a notable film trade analyst, moderated a couple of sessions on the dynamic trends in the industry today.
The iconic Prasads Multiplex in Hyderabad became the host for the Red Lorry Film Festival: Parallel Verse. The southern edition saw over 70 films being showcased. The festival’s inauguration was marked by a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony led by producer and owner of Prasad Studios and Prasads Multiplex, Ramesh Prasad. Paying homage to his late father, renowned filmmaker L.V. Prasad, he introduced Missamma and shared heartfelt anecdotes about preserving a rich filmmaking legacy.
The festival also became a launchpad for music and cinematic announcements. Actor Shiva Balaji, best known for his role in Arya and soon to be seen in Kannappa, thrilled fans with the launch of his new album, ‘Godavarikae Soggani’. The festival also saw the special song launch event for the upcoming film Chaaurya Paatam, featuring actors Indhra Ram and Payal Radhakrishna. Kannappa’s cast — Vishnu Manchu, along with Raghu Babu, Shiva Balaji, Brahmaji, Sapthagiri, Raghu Babu, Koushal, Mukesh Kumar Singh and Arpit Ranka — walked the red carpet and attended the event to screen the teaser and songs of the upcoming film for a live audience. Prabhas’ classic Chhatrapati, directed by S.S. Rajamouli, returned to the big screen at the Red Lorry Film Festival: Parallel Verse.
Some of the films that were showcased included Anora, Se7en, Heat, Happy Days, Missamma, Maayabazaar, Red Rooms, Pushpak Vimanam, Aditya 369, Chhatrapati and Magadheera. Beyond its screenings, the festival also hosted exclusive masterclasses. Ramesh Prasad explored cinematic heritage and the art of preservation, while Tess Joseph delved into the evolution of casting and representation. Filmmaker Sekhar Kammula offered insights on storytelling. Krishna Vamsi, Shiva Balaji and Navadeep revealed behind-the-scenes filmmaking and acting nuances, and Venkat C. Dileep examined cinematography’s transformation. Screenwriter Anjum Rajabali shared secrets of powerful storytelling, and V. N. Aditya explained the crucial elements that turn a scene into a masterpiece while the interactive session with Neelakanta focussed on reimagining stories.
Published – March 24, 2025 06:18 pm IST
Indian cinema
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World cinema
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Hindi cinema
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Telugu cinema
