Overview

• The feature opened the Biennale College Cinema program at the Venice International Film Festival on August 28.
• Set in a remote Himalayan town during the Kargil War, it follows Barkha, played by Trimala Adhikari, as the women endure absence while men are at the front.
• Adil Hussain plays a mysterious outsider, with Pushpendra Singh among the cast, and he cites the film’s compassionate anti-war themes as a draw.
• Reviews highlight vivid cinematography by Vikas Urs and immersive sound design by Neeraj Gera that shape a restrained, surreal mood piece.
• Director Nidhi Saxena frames the story around a local serpent legend to explore women’s desire, guilt, and the urge for freedom, blending folklore with magic realism.