Actress, director Nandita Das has praised filmmaker Aarti Neharsh's critically acclaimed short film, The Song We Sang. The film is set to have its Indian premiere at the 11th Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (MIQFF) beginning 22 July. It is a love story about two women, played by Serena Walia and Ayushi Gupta, who meet for the first time on the first day of Navratri and fall in love.
Das, who starred in Fire (1996), India's first mainstream film that explored the lesbian relationship between two women, said, "The Song We Sang, directed by a young filmmaker, Aarti Neharsh, celebrates the beginning of a romance between two strangers. The short film is simple and sweet. It treasures and mourns its moments at the same time."
The film's European premiere was held at the London Indian Film Festival last month, where it was singled out for a Special Jury Mention in the Satyajit Ray Short Film competition.
Talking about the Indian premiere of her film, the 24-year-old filmmaker said, "It has been an overwhelming journey so far, right from making the film to now bringing it to people who have received it with so much love. I am really excited for the Indian premiere. It is definitely special because it is also the first time the film will reach people here back home."
Song We Sang is produced by Rahul Tejwani of Green Chutney Films.