Mehroon
In Mehroon, a Trans-woman, seemingly isolated yet far from lonely, navigates the delicate balance between her identity and the pressures thrust upon her in the wake of her father’s passing. Confronted with a will that enforces her estrangement from her true self, and determined to break free from its oppressive force, Mehroon embarks on a journey of self-discovery and liberation; while grappling with and navigating the expectations of society and family.
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Abu Sohel KhondekarDirector
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Abu Sohel KhondekarWriter
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Neeraj ChuriProducerSisak, Sheer Qorma, Holy Curse, My Mother's Girlfriend
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Sridhar RangayanProducerGulabi Aaina, Malwa Kushan, Taps, My Mother's Girlfriend, Kuch Sapney Apne
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Saagar GuptaProducerMalwa Kushan, Taps, My Mother's Girlfriend, Kuch Sapney Apne
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Tanushree ChakrabortyKey Cast"Mehroon"
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Ralph DavidKey Cast"Young Mehroon"
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Adrij BasuKey Cast"Courier Boy"
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Jamshed AlamKey Cast"Mehroon's Father"
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Zena SagarExecutive ProducerTara
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Rusha BoseCinematographerDevi Aur Hero, Homecoming, Bob Biswas, Goni, The Village Raga
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Nikhil MehrortraAssistant Camera
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Pawan KambleEditor
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Amir MondalColourist
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Avani RashISound Recordist
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Saptak SarkarSound Design
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Keerthan BernyMusic
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Anurag PaulPoster & Illustrations
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Durbar DeAssistant Director
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Bhaskar SenMake-up and Hair
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Husnaa LakdawalaProduction Assistants
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Adrij BasuProduction Assistants
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:10 minutes
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Completion Date:April 29, 2024
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Production Budget:253,000 INR
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Country of Origin:India
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Country of Filming:India
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Language:Bengali
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2024Mumbai, Maharashtra
India
May 19, 2024
Indian Premiere
Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker - Special Mention -
Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival 2024Chennai, Tamil Nadu
India
August 16, 2024 -
The Bangalore Queer Film Festival 2024Bangalore, Karnataka
India
August 23, 2024 -
100% Manusia Film Festival 2024Jakarta, Java
Indonesia
August 31, 2024
Asian Premiere -
Tasveer Film Festival & Market 2024Seattle, Washington State
United States
October 19, 2024
North American Premiere
Distribution Information
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Solaris PicturesDistributorCountry: IndiaRights: All Rights, Theatrical, Video / Disc
Abu Sohel Khondekar is a filmmaker, writer, and advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. As a Neurodivergent, Non-binary Trans person, Abu uses cinema to explore themes of resilience, identity, and social justice. A graduate of Jadavpur University with a Master’s in Film Studies, they draw on leftist ideologies and a deep-seated commitment to challenging societal norms through storytelling.
Their recent short film, Mehroon, has gained critical acclaim, most notably earning a Special Mention for the Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker at the prestigious KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2024. Mehroon was also showcased at the 2024 Tasveer Film Festival & Market, the only Oscar®-qualifying South Asian film festival, further establishing Abu as a voice to watch out for in contemporary South Asian cinema.
In addition to filmmaking, Abu's work extends into documentary photography, where they capture raw and powerful moments that echo their cinematic vision. Dedicated to exploring the intersection of personal and political, Abu continues to create films; aiming to inspire empathy and transformation through visual narratives.
For Mehroon, I aimed to craft a story rooted in profound isolation but steeped in resilience. This film centers on a Trans-woman, whose journey unfolds not through words but through a powerful visual narrative. She may be isolated from the world around her, but she is far from lonely. Her story is a testament to the quiet strength that comes from self-acceptance and a deep inner life, even in the face of societal alienation.
The absence of dialogue in Mehroon was an intentional choice. I wanted the visuals to carry the weight of her experiences, using silence to amplify her isolation and draw the viewer into her inner world. It also allowed us to explore themes of identity and solitude in a raw, unfiltered manner, encouraging the audience to focus on her expressions, her movements, and the subtle interactions she has with her surroundings.
Creating Mehroon was both a personal and creative challenge. Working with limited resources, I had to rely on everything I’ve learned in cinema to bring this story to life, making each shot intentional and each frame a piece of the protagonist's unspoken narrative. In this sense, Mehroon is a tribute to Cinema, and the strength found in solitude and the beauty of a life lived authentically, even if that life is at odds with the world outside.
I am deeply grateful to my Producers Neeraj Churi, Sridhar Rangayan, Saagar Gupta, my Cinematographer Rusha Bose and my Executive Producer Zena Saagar for their support, as well as to the entire cast and crew who brought this vision to life. Their dedication and understanding of the film’s delicate themes have allowed Mehroon to become not just a film, but a meaningful journey of self-hood, resilience, and quiet defiance.