Acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is set to present Songs of Forgotten Trees, the feature directorial debut of Anuparna Roy, which will have its world premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. The film marks India’s sole entry in the festival’s prestigious Horizons strand, as reported by Variety.
Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, the Mumbai-based human drama explores themes of identity, survival, and unexpected female solidarity. It is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh, with co-production support from Navin Shetty and Anuparna Roy herself.
Set in the bustling backdrop of Mumbai, the story follows Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress who uses her beauty and charm to navigate the city, occasionally leveraging intimacy for opportunity. When she sublets her sugar daddy’s upscale apartment to Swetha, a corporate worker and fellow migrant, the two women begin an unlikely journey of connection. Amid personal wounds and the city’s unrelenting pace, they forge a bond shaped by empathy and shared struggle.
“This film is about quiet resilience, vulnerability, and how two seemingly different women find common ground,” reads the film’s synopsis.
Anurag Kashyap expressed his excitement about supporting the project, stating, “I’ve always believed in backing new talent—voices that challenge convention and present something fresh. Anuparna is one such voice, and I’m proud to support her debut film.”
Kashyap and Ranjan Singh, who previously collaborated on indie projects like Little Thomas and the Berlin selection Tiger’s Pond, continue their legacy of championing unique narratives.
Meanwhile, Kashyap’s own film Bandar (Monkey in a Cage), starring Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra, is slated for a world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.
