In the emotional and heart-breaking Matto Ki Saikil (2022), a labourer tries to provide for his family by working multiple jobs by commuting his old cycle, only to find it completely unusable after an accident. As he struggles to make do, his world might just collapse under the weight of his burdens.
Starring filmmaker Prakash Jha as Matto, the film also features Anita Chowdhary, Dimpy Mishra, Aarohi Sharma, Idhika Roy, CP Sharma and Aayan Madar.
Directed by M Gani, the poignant drama premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2020.
“It is about a daily-wage labourer, his family, and their bicycle which is very dear to them. It is not just something that's merely material. The family is very attached to it,” the filmmaker shared about his debut feature film.
He added, “The film is a contemporary one, but many situations, incidents, and people are drawn from my life.”
Shot in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, the film has Jha playing the lead role of Matto.
"The script is very good,” Jha stated. “I was simply bowled over. It took me back to the 1980s when I started my career with documentaries and the bonded labour-themed film Damul (1985).”
The filmmaker went on to say, “I liked the story so much that I decided not only to act in the 95-minute movie, but also produce it.”
Matto Ki Saikal, distributed by PVR Pictures, is due to be released on 16 September.
Check out the trailer below and let us know if you are keen to see the film.