The short film The Miniaturist Of Junagadh (2021), starring Naseeruddin Shah, Rasika Dugal, Padmavati Rao and Raj Arjun, is out now on YouTube.
Directed by Kaushal Oza, the film was premiered on the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films channel on 25 May. Set in 1947, the period piece follows the unravelling of a secret about a beautiful miniature collection that a family is determined to keep.
The Miniaturist Of Junagadh review: A tender tale set in a tumultuous time
The Miniaturist Of Junagadh was nominated as Best Short Film at the New York Indian Film Festival last year. It was screened at the Cincinnati Indian Film Festival and was part of the official selection at the International Film Festival of South Asia Toronto and Indian Film Festival Stuttgart.
Dugal stated she was delighted that the film was accessible for a wider audience, after its festival run. She stated, “I am moved by how gently and beautifully Kaushal has chosen to tell this story. The film is embellished with so many details which never attract attention to themselves and might even seem inconsequential but contribute so much to the experience of a viewer and in creating a world for the actors to thrive in.”
She added, “This is a special film for me as it gave me the opportunity to act alongside Naseer Saab, who was my teacher at FTII [Film and Television Institute of India]. So, I got to be a student again!”