Private Project

Malwa Khushan

Coming of age story of two sisters Malwa and Khushan exploring and experiencing sexuality and attraction in their adolescent years. Living with their grandmother, Khushan always looks up to Malwa for her outspoken nature and courage. Soon a new girl arrives in Khushan's class and she starts developing feelings for her.

  • Preeti Kanungo
    Director
  • Sourav Yadav
    Director
  • Preeti Kanungo
    Writer
  • Neeraj Churi
    Producer
  • Sridhar Rangayan
    Producer
  • Saagar Gupta
    Producer
  • Amit Kulkarni
    Editor
  • Priyanshi Bharti
    Key Cast
    "Khushan"
  • Prakrati Chouhan
    Key Cast
    "Malwa"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    drama, romance, lgbtq
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 24, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    3,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Iris Prize 2023
    Cardiff, Wales
    United Kingdom
    October 11, 2023
    UK Premiere
  • KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival

    June 8, 2023
    World Premiere
    1. Winner - Riyad Wadia Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker Award 2. Special Jury Mention - Ismat Chughtai Award for Best Indian Woman Filmmaker
  • 18th Tasveer Festival
    Seattle
    United States
    October 14, 2023
    Seattle Premiere
  • Chicago South Asian Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    September 21, 2023
    International Premiere
Director Biography - Preeti Kanungo, Sourav Yadav

PREETI KANUNGO
Preeti Kanungo is an independent filmmaker and a social worker, who believes in making cinema that speaks to her. She feels passionate about telling stories that provide some answers and the warmth of a tight hug. Through her art, she tries to understand the complexities of human emotions and the human world and present them in simple forms. She is also a part-time stop-motion animator, which is one thing that brings her alive. She wishes to experiment with the medium of cinema and make a lot of experimental films. Malwa Khushan is Preeti’s debut narrative film.

SOURAV YADAV
Sourav Yadav, a versatile filmmaker, possesses a diverse skill set encompassing cinematography, editing and color grading. He has accumulated various credits to his name, including his notable roles as a colorist in some Netflix series as well. Throughout his career, Sourav's unwavering passion to be in control of what is shown on screen has driven him to continually push his boundaries. Starting as an editor in 2013, he progressed through roles as a colorist and cinematographer, culminating in his directorial film "Malwa Khushan." This valuable insight enabled him to bring a distinct look and feel to "Malwa Khushan" while collaborating with Preeti. With profound excitement, Sourav eagerly anticipates further exploration of the intersection between directing and cinematography in his future projects.

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Director Statement

Malwa-Khushan is the tale of two adolescent sisters exploring love and attraction in all the ways they know how. The film mirrors the conflicts and messiness in understanding one's own sexuality. It represents hope, that when one sees the film, they see the unaffected innocence of the girls, their love for each other, and their promise to always stand by each other.