Anurag Kashyap comes on board Suman Sen's Eka

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has decided to back Suman Sen's Eka, which is currently being screened at Cannes.

The film, a French-Bangladeshi venture, is part of this year's La Fabrique Project, a competition to help student filmmakers at the Cannes Festival.

The gritty socio-political drama is told from the vantage of a 56-year-old insurance salesman, Biplab. The film takes place over a week when a yet-to-be unveiled statue leads to an upheaval and an awakening in Biplab's life. The 'common man' finally realizes he can take it no longer, leading the way to a revolt and a larger protest.

The film already has France's Dominique Wellinski on board as producer with DW Productions, while Bangladesh's Arifur Rehman and Bijon Imtiaz have backed the project through their Goopy Bagha Productions.

Speaking to Variety.com, Anurag Kashyap said, “It is joy to find something where you can actually collaborate — the power of the idea, the script, and that filmmakers from France and Bangladesh and India can come together and make the film makes me very happy to come aboard."

Responding to a query from Cinestaan.com on WhatsApp, Suman Sen said, "I am super thrilled and excited to have Anurag on board. I have always admired and keenly followed his works. Getting him as a creative collaborator beyond the producer's role will enrich my vision. His unique voice is like an institution. His presence will give an impetus to kick off our next level of production and help us while mounting the film on the desired canvas."

Speaking to Cinestaan.com before travelling to France, Sen had said, "The importance of this market is not only economic. The sheer prestige it gives the project will provide us with the strength to reach the next level of pre-production and the intention of international co-production in concrete agreements. This will also validate the intensity of the project and the underlying potential to connect with the larger audience."

Kashyap's Good Bad Films is founded in partnership with Shrub Jagasia and Akshay Thakker.