Saba Azad, Namit Das, Geetanjali Kulkarni come together for Rumana Molla’s Minimum

May 12, 2022 - 5:46 PM IST

The international drama Minimum will be helmed by writer-actor and 2022 Berlinale Talent Rumana Molla in her directorial debut. Set in Belgium, the film deals with transactional marriage and migration with love, affection and friendship at the core.

Saba Azad, Namit Das, Geetanjali Kulkarni come together for Rumana Molla’s Minimum

The cast includes Saba Azad, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Namit Das with Rumana herself playing one of the major roles. Minimum follows the story of newly wed immigrant Fauzia, who lands in a house that isn't hers with her mother-in-law, Ruxana, who insidiously keeps her captive. She finds out that everything she had been told about her husband Ali was a lie and loses all hope until a French tutor, Laurie, is hired to teach her the basics. An atypical friendship is forged, secrets are revealed and Fauzia learns to demand more than the bare minimum.

Producer Shiladitya Bora, who will be backing the film, said “I’ve always felt drawn to stories that have a strong emotional connect, that push the envelope of Indian independent cinema while staying true to its roots. Minimum is a perfect example of that, and Rumana’s vision is one that I truly believe in. We’ve managed to assemble a fantastic team and a superb cast, and we’re so excited to bring this film to audiences across the world!”

Producer Radhika Lavu, the founder of Ellanar Films, said, “Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth or power. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter. Rumana’s story about Fauzia reflects similar emotions and ideology. We’re excited to take on this new journey and are eager to share this endearing film Minimum with the world”

Rumana added “I’ve always felt inclined towards writing and it was just a matter of finding the right story that stood the test of time. The inspiration for Minimum came from my own observations. I have seen a lot of transactional marriages of different kinds. Especially abroad, there are a lot of people who get married but don’t reveal the entire truth about themselves. But more than that, the uniqueness of the film will lie in its treatment of such situations – exploring our cultural differences with warmth, affection and humour.”

Saba, who has been flying high on the success of the much-loved series Rocket Boys, said, “I knew I had to be a part of Minimum as soon as I read it. It’s a very unusual story.” The actor, who plays a French tutor in the film, feels, “The character of Laurie is possibly the toughest that I’ve taken up as an actor, mostly because I have to do this in a language I’m not familiar with. That’s what pulled me to the film, I knew it would test my abilities as an artist.”

Geetanjali Kulkarni, who is seen in the popular SonyLiv series Gullak, mentioned the reason saying, “First of all, I liked the story a lot. It is a very honest and detailed depiction of the life of an immigrant family. The character I am playing is a person who is a survivor trying her best so that she and her son could live a better life. Rumana is a young and promising director and I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”

Namit Das, the theatre and film actor who’s recently been seen in the hit series Aarya and Mafia, shares what drew him to the film. “I was intrigued by the name itself. Whatever Shiladitya does, I find it very hatke and soulful. As I drowned myself in the script, I realised that it’s a deceptively simple film,with complex layers in it. I’m fascinated by the world of these characters.” On working with debut director Rumana, he says, “Right away in my first meeting with her, I realised that she knows what she wants, and that’s the best quality of a director. I love her warmth and her vision – Minimum is her world that she dreamt about and is bringing to life – and I can't wait to dive into it!”

Rumana herself feels blessed with such an amazing cast. “I have been throwing curve balls left, right and centre and they have embraced each and every one of them at every step of the way. The level of enthusiasm and commitment that I have observed is rare to come by,” she concluded.

Produced by Shiladitya Bora (Platoon One Films) and Radhika Lavu (Ellanar Films), Minimum is slated to go on floors in June 2022. It is aiming for a Summer 2023 release.

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan’s girlfriend Saba Azad shares singing video; Pinky Roshan comments, ‘Beautiful voice’