Richa Chadha And Ali fazal’s Himalayan film: Journey to Venice

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha’s film “Secrets of a Mountain Serpent” will be screened at Venice Film Festival

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha join the Mountain Serpent Project

Bollywood powerhouse couple Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha have become producers of “Secrets of a Mountain Serpent” through their production house, Pushing Button Studios.

The film is set to have its prestigious world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

Emerging director gets a big break

Behind the project is filmmaker Nidhi Saxxena, whose talent secured a Venice Biennale College Fund grant.

Earlier, her work “Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman” made headlines at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival.

Building a creative partnership

The production involves a collaboration with Cannes Camera d’Or winner Vimukthi Jayasundara’s Forest Flower Films, bringing together serious artistic reputations.

Story blends myth with modern themes

Set in a remote Himalayan town during the 1990s, the drama focuses on Barkha (played by Trimala Adhikari), a school teacher whose husband is serving at the border.

In this isolated community where most men are absent, Barkha develops an unexpected relationship with a mysterious outsider named Manik Guho (Adil Hussain), who disrupts the town’s delicate balance.

What attracted the star producers

“We were immediately drawn to Nidhi’s poetic approach,” the couple explained.

“It’s a story that is rooted in myth but still startlingly relevant today.”

Their commitment to supporting risk-taking storytellers aligns perfectly with Saxxena’s “unique, poetic and soulful” approach.

Production status

With filming already completed, the team is now deep into post-production in preparation for their Venice debut.

Building on past success

This is not the couple’s first foray into meaningful production.

Their company previously backed “Girls Will Be Girls,” directed by Shuchi Talati, which won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival last year.

That film earned critical acclaim for its refreshing take on the sexual awakening of teenage girls.

Impact on the industry

Fazal and Chadha, who ventured into production as established actors, are part of a growing trend of artists using their influence to support distinctive voices in Indian cinema, potentially opening up new international avenues for stories from the subcontinent.