Indie filmmaker Aneek Chaudhuri busy with new film, Cactus, based on Michelangelo’s Pieta

Indie filmmaker Aneek Chaudhuri's upcoming film, Cactus will revist life and death of Christ
Still from Aneek Chaudhuri's upcoming movie, Cactus
Still from Aneek Chaudhuri's upcoming movie, Cactus

After the much acclaimed White, which won the Critics’ Choice award in Boston and is competing for the Golden Durian in Philippines, independent filmmaker Aneek Chaudhuri is busy with his new full length feature, Cactus.

The film is loosely based around Pieta, an exquisite work of sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti housed in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, where the Virgin is holding the dead body of Christ. Much like I’m Not There, a Hollywood movie based on Bob Dylan, where Cate Blanchett played Dylan, Cactus will see actor Amrita Chattopadhyay reprising the role of Christ. 

<em>Actor Amrita Chattopadhyay</em>
Actor Amrita Chattopadhyay

Amrita, who started her career with the film, Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa, garnered praises for her performance in the multilingual film 3 Smoking Barrels. “Amrita first caught my attention with her debut act and 3 Smoking Barrels convinced me about her acting skills. She will be portraying Jesus metaphorically,” says director Aneek Chaudhuri, who sees Cactus as a surrealistic attempt in defining some of the established beliefs.

The film is divided into three eras – before Christ, during the time of Christ and just after his death. He has also depicted the Last Supper in an art form in this film.

<em>Filmmaker Aneek Chaudhuri</em>
Filmmaker Aneek Chaudhuri

Chaudhuri is planning to wrap up shooting by end of this year and showcase it at international film festivals before releasing it on digital platforms. He tells us that the film is quite different from White and will question belief. “Though the movie is about God, he will not be shown as someone omnipotent. He will have his share of blemishes, too. We have personified God in this film with his own share of vices,” says Chaudhuri.

Chaudhuri’s last film White had also premiered in Cannes Marche du section and was also shown in nine other film festivals including the ones in Melbourne and Sydney.

Related Stories

No stories found.
Indulgexpress
www.indulgexpress.com