Godavari to open this year’s New York Indian Film Festival

Filmmaker Nikhil Mahajan’s Godavari has been chosen to be the opening film at the 22nd edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) this year.

The film stars Jitendra Joshi, who has also produced the film with Jio Studios.

Sharing his happiness at the news, Mahajan said in a statement, “I am happy to know that Godavari has been selected as the opening film for this year’s NYIFF. We have made this film with a positive attitude. We shot this film during the pandemic in just 16 days. I am thankful to Jio Studios for trusting me and my work. The selection of this film for this festival will provide me inspiration for my future projects.”

Also starring Neena Kulkarni, Vikram Gokhale, Priyadarshan Jadhav and Gauri Nalawade, the film is the story of a man who is frustrated by his mundane life of collecting rent for his family of landowners in Nashik, Maharashtra. The film takes its title from the famous river that flows through the city.

Godavari was screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa last year where Joshi and Mahajan received the Best Actor award and Special Jury award, respectively.

Reacting to the win, Joshi had said at the time, “Godavari is my first film [as producer]. This is the result of the hard work put in by our team and director Nikhil Mahajan. I am very happy to know that the Best Actor award went to India. To represent India and gain the honour is a big deal.”

Director Bani Singh’s multilingual Taangh will be the centrepiece film at the festival while Ajay Bose and Peter Crompton’s The Beatles And India: An Enduring Love Affair will be the closing film.