Arun Karthick, an Indian director, brings a very personal story to Film Bazaar with his latest effort, “Aanaikatti Blues. ” The film explores adolescent love and gang culture in a small mountain community.
The film follows Gopi, 22, and Vishnupriya, 20, whose live-in relationship becomes more problematic when Gopi joins “The 46 Gang,” a local gang of young men who like drinking, smoking, hunting, and cricket betting.
Karthick crafts the narrative based on his experience. “I was initiated into the sub-culture of small-town gang life, which led to some devastating personal consequences,” he told me. The film seeks to investigate how young people negotiate the conflict between tradition and modern life.
As Gopi’s substance misuse worsens, the story follows his increasing paranoia and its effects on his relationship with Vishnupriya. The rising tensions threaten to derail their future together.
The production company Manvasanai, whose name means “the scent of the earth,” is behind the endeavor. Madhu Mohan, the producer, expressed their mission: “We started Manvasanai to tell stories of rootedness, nature, and native realities.”
Karthick and producer Mathivanan Rajendran have previously collaborated on the film “Nasir.” Rajendran characterized the piece as honoring “the raw, unfiltered joy of being alive.”
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The crew seeks international partnerships at the Goa International Film Festival’s Film Bazaar. “We want to connect with co-producers who share our vision and bring this rooted, universal story to global audiences,” says Mohan.
The film promises an intimate look at the complicated emotional environment of rural Indian teenagers, combining personal struggles with larger social issues.
