16 Indian films to watch out for at IFFI 2016 

Directed by National Award winning documentary filmmaker Gautam Ghose, Shankhachil is the tale of a father who travels from newly-created East Pakistan to India, for the treatment of his daughter. It is Ghose's first feature film, and has a talented cast led by Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, it is one of the dark horses in the Indian Panorama section. It has already won the National Award for Best feature film in Bengali.

The second film of Pawan Kumar, U-Turn, is a remarkable and deftly written suspense thriller about the most ordinary traffic exercise, the U turn. Kumar's debut, Lucia (2013), was hailed as a watershed moment for Kannada cinema. Kumar's second film carries elements of mystery, thrill, and suspense that set him apart as one of the young filmmakers to watch out for.  

K Sera Sera is a wonderful tale of a father and son whose different perspectives and ideologies in life put them at odds against each other. Rajeev Shinde's little Konkani film will be premiering at the IFFI festival. Shinde, who has been a playwright for 30 years, has a talented team at his back. Palomi Ghosh (Nachom ia Kumpasar), DOP Hari Nair (Shool) and editor Niraj Voralia (Vihir, Shwaas, and Valu)  as well as sound designer Biswajeet Chatterjee (Parineeta, Piku, Bajirao Mastani) have all contributed to the film. Of course, there is the presence of Rajesh Pednekar, whose performance in Digant (2013) earned him a ticket to Cannes Film Festival in 2013. If you are looking for a taste of Goa in Goa, this is the film to watch.

Saibal Mitra's film is a statement on the conflicts in an artist's mind and personality. Based on incidents in the life of two major painters of this century, Mark Rothko and Binod Bihari Mukherjee, the film is definitely one to watch for anyone with an inclination for the visual arts. 

Don't let the complicated title throw you off, this film is as Indian as it comes. Directed by Sanjib Sabhapandit, the film is a tale of an old man who returns to his hometown in search of a forgotten love. The director's last documentary won the National Award for Best film on Environment Conservation. As for this one, it has some positive buzz going for it. 

This year's IFFI lineup has quite a few popular Hindi films scheduled. However, Shekhar Sartandel's Ekk Albela is unique by its being a Marathi film on one of the biggest Hindi film stars of his time, Bhagwan Dada. The film released early this year, with the added attraction of Vidya Balan playing Geeta Bali. 

Speaking of Hindi films, here's a film, with a major cast of Hindi cinema familiars, in English. Mantra is directed by theatre veteran Nicholas Kharkongor and tells the intimate story of an entrepreneurial family's transition into the 'new age' of corporatisation. With Rajat Kapoor, Kalki Koechlin, Adil Hussain leading the cast, it is definitely a film to keep your eyes peeled for. 

An engaging and entertaining film, Pinky Beauty Parlour deals with the very Indian obsession with fair skin through the viewpoint of two sisters running a beauty parlour in Benaras. Directed by actor, writer Akshay Singh, the film premiered at MAMI and earned rave reviews before arriving at IFFI. 

2015's National Award winner is a film about a suicidal farmer and his young son's visit to the temple town of Pandharpur. Emotionally stirring and brilliantly enacted, the film is another evidence of the growing clout of Marathi cinema in the Indian film horizon. Watch it for the acting masterclass by Shashank Shende. 

A nominee to the 2015 National awards, this brilliant Malayalam film is the tale of a blind old man and his relationship to the universe of sound. Written and directed by MB Padmakumar, the film is a wonderful example of the sensitive humanistic stories that Malayalam cinema is well known for. 
 

The South is definitely well represented this year at IFFI. Malayalam director Jayaraj's wonderful adaptation of Shakespeare's Scottish play stars Kunal Kapoor as the fatally ambitious general, Chandu Chekavar. If nothing, the film evokes interest through its transportation of one of Shakespeare's most formidable characters to 16th century Kerala. 

If long features do not interest you, here's something smaller instead. A wonderful documentary about how kite flying sends a 11-year-old Zaid on an adventure, Amdavad Ma Famous has created quite the buzz at festivals. The perfect film if you are tired of more serious issues. 
 

Unless you are living under a rock, you have definitely heard of Sairat. One of the biggest Marathi blockbusters ever, this modern day Romeo and Juliet saga put Nagraj Manjule on the path to fame. It is not done yet. The film has reportedly been picked up by Karan Johar for a Hindi remake. 

Among the films that speak of less spoken issues is Daaravtha. A courageous tale of a young boy coming to terms with his sexuality. It has already won the National Award for Best Debut Film in 2015 for its director, Nishantroy Bombarde.

This is a film by a woman for women. Directed by Sonia Saharan, this short film is about the social stigma around the issue of honour killing, and the right of women in villages across India. Set in Haryana, it is a film that is as relevant as it is powerful. 

Devashish Makhija's short film on a traffic constable letting his demons loose is a hilariously, absurd delight. This little gem is made more special with the presence of Manoj Bajpayee in a wonderful performance. Do not miss it!