Director Arun Karthik (Rotterdam-winning ‘Sivapuranam’, Rotterdam-winning ‘Naseer’) returns to Film Bazaar with ‘Aanaikatti Blues’, a young love story set against the backdrop of the rural gangster culture of a mountain village in India.
The film follows 22-year-old Gopi and 20-year-old Vishnupriya as they live together in a controversial relationship while Gopi becomes increasingly entangled with a local gang. The story depicts Gopi’s descent into drug abuse through her involvement in ‘The 46 Gang’, a group of young people who are into drinking, smoking, hunting and cricket gambling. As his addiction deepens and paranoia sets in, the story tracks its impact on his relationship with Vishnupriya, culminating in a series of events that threaten their future.
“I was introduced to the subculture of small-town gang life, which had devastating personal consequences. That’s why I want to tell this story,” says Karthik. variety.
The film examines the intersection of tradition and modernity through the lens of rural India’s youth culture. “The film explores a live-in relationship in the lives of two young people and the consequences of finding themselves in a vortex of village gossip and drug abuse,” says Karthik.
The project is supported by production company Mambasanai, whose name means “scent of the earth.” Producer Madhu Mohan explains their involvement: Arun’s previous works have always embodied these values with their authenticity and depth, and Anaikatti Blues takes them even further, with a deeply personal yet universal resonance. and could not be ignored. ”
Producer Mathivanan Rajendran, who earlier collaborated with Karthik on ‘Nasir’, considers ‘Aanaikatti Blues’ to be a continuation of their creative partnership. “This story celebrates the raw, unfiltered joy of being alive. When I first heard this song, I thought, ‘What a life!’ This sentiment must be shared. I thought it wouldn’t happen,” says Rajendran.
At Film Bazaar, which is part of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) project market in Goa, the team is looking to connect with potential co-producers and distributors. “We are excited to spread the word about Anaikatti Blues, connect with co-producers who share our vision, and secure broader distribution channels to bring this deeply rooted and universal story to a global audience. We aim to work with distributors and festival programmers who can support us in this way,” said Mohan. Say.
