These British-Indian Filmmakers Are Making A Splash With Stories Rooted In India

Constable Santosh and her superior, Officer Geeta Sharma (played by Sunita Rajwar), are driving through rural northern India in a jeep. As Sharma smokes, Asha Bhosle’s song “Waapus Kardo Meri Neend” plays softly in the background, setting the tone. Sharma begins to draw comparisons between cinema and police work, while Santosh, who has been thrust into the deep end of police duty, listens attentively.

In British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s debut feature ‘Santosh’ (2024; Hindi), the talented Shahana Goswami stars as a widow who steps into her late husband’s role as a police officer. The film, which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, marks Suri’s third work set in India, following her previous documentaries.

Another notable work is ‘Sister Midnight’ (2024), directed by British-Indian filmmaker Karan Kandhari and featuring Radhika Apte. Set in a cramped slum dwelling, the story follows Uma as she realizes her new husband is bumbling and inept. As the narrative unfolds, Uma begins to unleash the anger she has suppressed over a life she neither chose nor can change.

Both films, with ‘Sister Midnight’ having been screened in the Director’s Fortnight section at Cannes, are must-sees if you get the chance.