Aijaz Khan's Hamid to have world premiere at 20th Mumbai Film Festival

After Devashish Makhija's Ajji (2017), Yoodlee Films is once again bringing another film to premiere at Mumbai Film Festival. Hamid, directed by Aijaz Khan, is set and shot entirely in the conflict-ridden region of Kashmir. It stars Rasika Dugal, Sumit Kaul, Vikas Kumar and Talha Arshad Reshi. It will be a part of the lineup of the India Story section at the 20th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival.

Young child actor Talha Arshad Reshi plays 8-year-old Hamid who wants to connect with his missing father by dialling 786 to reach God. He reaches an initially hesitant CRPF Jawaan Abhay (Vikas Kumar) who helps him on his quest.

Khan's first film, The White Elephant (2009), starring Tannishtha Chatterjee, Neena Gupta and Piyush Mishra, premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. In a statement, the director said, "In a time and age that is ravaged by politics of hatred, Hamid is a story of finding strength in the most simple of friendships and in the most innocent of beliefs. I am thrilled that film aficionados from all over will get a chance to see my labour of love in MAMI."

Additionally, producer Siddharth Anand Kumar said, "Hamid essentially is a film on the search for hope and solace through the lives of two dramatically displaced individuals. The fact that this is juxtaposed against the complicated geographical ramifications of Kashmir, makes for a sensitive and gripping tale. Yoodlee Films proudly takes the baton of 'Fearless Filmmaking' forward with this one."

The 20th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival will be held from 25 October to 1 November.