Rajshri Deshpande’s (Trial By Fire) short film Gudgudi, based on 2002 Gujarat riots, will premiere at Denmark’s Odense International Film Festival. The film will be screened at the festival on August 27, 29 and 31.
Directed by Abhiroop Basu, Gudgudi explores the themes of survival and resilience through the lens of a mother-daughter duo.
Abhiroop, who earlier made short films like Meal, Laali and Rhino Charge with Adil Hussain, Pankaj Tripathi and Geetanjali Kulkarni, respectively, started to research on Gujarat riots and many shocking incidents were reportedly unveiled during the process, which compelled him to make the short.
Talking about the film, Abhiroop said, "During my research about the 2002 riots, I came across this shocking news report that said more than 150 Hindu women were also raped and murdered. This led me to a moment of reckoning: Women don't have any religion. They are just flesh. And this became the very lens through which I wanted to revisit the riots and share this incredible true story.”
Reflecting on her decision to support the project, Rajshri noted, "I liked Abhiroop's point of view, that he got rid of all the unnecessary noise and decided to focus on a human story of survival against all odds. The fact that he chose to tell it from a woman's perspective makes it fresh, urgent, and all the more relevant today.”
Gudgudi also features Akash Sinha, Chetan Sharma, Kuldeep Sareen, and Shayree Sarkar.
