In a small town of 1960s India, deep-rooted in orthodox traditions, cinema is believed to corrupt young minds and women have been forbidden to watch films. Devi, a 14-year-old girl, is obsessed with films and dreams of watching a film in the theatre. Her neighbor, Mohan, a 14-year-old mute cinephile boy, narrates stories from his favorite films to her at night. When an unforeseen incident shakes their world, Devi has one last chance to pursue her dream. The First Film celebrates friendship, courage, and the magic of cinema.
The period from the early 1950s is considered the ‘Golden Age’ of Indian Cinema. Movie theatres were flooded with iconic hits, and the newly Independent nation was discovering newer fantasies through films.
I have been inspired by so many stories told by my grandparents who, like me, were obsessed with films. The magic of being transported to another world and experiencing it up-close has always excited me as an audience and a storyteller. I began to curiously ponder: How far would a cinephile go to watch a special film?
The First Film is about recreating the magic of watching films, an emotion that binds us all.
Piyush Thakur is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). His student short film, The Real Millionaire, was nominated for the International Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and travelled globally to more than 75 film festivals, winning multiple awards. He was selected from India for the International Student Film Camp in Serbia.
After FTII, he worked as an assistant director to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the film Bajirao Mastani. He was also selected for the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab in Japan and Platform Busan at the Busan International Film Festival.His latest short film, The First Film, had its world premiere at the Festival de Cortos de Bogotá – BOGOSHORTS in Colombia and was recognized as a ‘Short Film Market Pick’ by the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and ‘Film Bazaar Recommends’ by NFDC Doc Film Bazaar. It won ‘The German Star of India – Audience Award’ at the Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart and ‘Best Short Narrative International Award’ at the Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival.
Cast
Priyanka Beriya
Vasudev Nishad
Tony Chawda
Usha Athaley
Yuvraj Singh Azad
Shibanee Mukherjee
Rajveer Mukherjee
Ajay Athaley
Editor-Producer-Director
Piyush Thakur
Story-Screenplay-Dialogue
Piyush Thakur & Deepak Lohana
Executive & Co-Producer
Anadi Athaley
Co-Producer
Dinkar Thakur
Cinematographer
Kumar Avyaya
Production Design
Anadi Athaley
Music
Pranil Desai
Sound Design & Mix
Pradyumna Chaware