(New York, NY – September 17, 2010) The first Indian-American director since the renowned Mira Nair to have a pan U.S. release, Shailja Gupta’s debut feature film Walkaway (2010) will hit theatres on October 29, 2010 through Reliance Cinemas at 26 screens across 18 cities.
- Walkaway is an English-language, independent American film, made with Bollywood flair and influences
- A light and humorous drama, Walkaway (IMDB), mocks the cliché of social obligations on young Indian Americans professionals settled in
- Bollywood heartthrob Shahrukh Khan’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment assisted in the post-production, editing and VFX. “As a successful member of our Indian film industry, it is my pleasure to support up-and-coming filmmakers like Shailja,” said Shahrukh
The movie explores the changing shades of the Indian mega-institution of marriage - the now-veiled urban dowry system to the overwhelming compromises demanded of a cross-cultural couple - the film weaves through the lives of four friends who struggle to strike a balance between ingrained family-values with the fast-paced melting-pot that is
In this South-Asian male version of Sex and the City, Darius, Vinay, Shridhar and Soham - single, dating, engaged and married - strive to maintain a semblance of sanity while questioning their desires and choices, pitted against the importance of dogmatic traditions. Join them and their loved ones on this journey, traversing ethnic and generational differences, and the pressures of modern relationships and careers. What will they choose to walk away from – family, love, or their values?
Academy Award winner Resul Pookutty (sound mixing for Slumdog Millionaire) has arranged the sound design and mixing for Walkaway. Resul remarked, “I was impressed by the director’s passion and energy, which has resulted in a fantastic product!”
CAST: Manu Narayan, Samrat Chakrabarti, Manish Dayal, Sanjeev Jhaveri, Deepti Gupta, Carrie Anne James, Pallavi Sharda, Ami Sheth
DIRECTOR: After a successful career in new media and Information Technology, Shailja actively pursued her passion for films. Her portfolio compasses role of Global Marketing Manager for Indian National award winner (2003) and internationally acclaimed film Chokher Bali, followed stint as Assistant Script Supervisor for another Indian National award winner (2005) – Raincoat, starring the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Drawing from her Indian roots and urban life as a young South Asian professional in New York City, Shailja wrote, directed and produced her first feature film – Walkaway in 2009-2010.
