Kiran Rao‘s production banner Kindling Pictures is backing commercial director Bosco Bhandarkar’s feature directorial debut “Shadow Hill: Of Spirits and Men,” which has been selected for the WAVES Film Bazaar‘s Co-Production Market.
The Bazaar is the market component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
The film follows two men on a treasure hunt in Goa — one seeking closure about a hidden truth and the other looking for an escape from drudgery. A mysterious woman who tells tales of the past helps both men find resolution. Set against the backdrop of Goa’s transformation from a tranquil coastal region to an urban sprawl, the story blends comedic and tragic moments while exploring themes of memory, loss and human connection.
“The idea is to find love as a counterforce to cynicism,” says Bhandarkar, who drew inspiration from childhood summer vacations spent at an ancestral house in a Goan village. “We are living in times when one hopes for some faith in humanity, and I hope our film helps reflect this in some small and beautiful ways.”
The director said he wanted to address the ecological destruction caused by Goa’s booming real estate market and political corruption, noting that “the very concepts of space and time have shifted drastically for the locals in present times, and not for the best.”
Rao, who co-founded Kindling Pictures with producer Tanaji Dasgupta, has known Bhandarkar for over 25 years. “His perspective is unusual, mischievous, and deeply human,” says Rao. “Through humor and irony, he is able to peel back the surface of ordinary life and reveal its hidden layers, often through striking, poetic imagery.”
Bhandarkar has spent most of his career directing commercials. He describes himself as a daydreamer who loves “films made by filmmakers who have school bags filled with empathy.”
At Film Bazaar, Kindling Pictures is seeking co-producers, financiers and film funds. The company has invested 25% of the budget and is looking to raise additional financing while attaching strategic partners to help execute Bhandarkar’s vision.
“We believe it embodies a rare balance of humor, poignancy, and danger,” said Rao. “We are very excited about this film because it promises to be an extraordinary cinematic experience,” adds Dasgupta.