Like so many nations, India is a land of high ideals and hopes that doesn't always live up to its better nature. That is the learning curve not only for 11-year-old Hari Aziz, but also for his parents, self-declared "Indophiles" and "religion agnostics," who met in film school in Australia but moved back to the land they love. When the funding on their film fizzles, the family is forced to downsize to a cheaper neighborhood, and with the move they find that their religious backgrounds (Imran was born a Muslim, and Parvati a Hindu) suddenly matter to people. A lot.

The masterstroke in writer/director Padmakumar's debut feature is to tell this story of intolerance and fundamentalism through the eyes of a smart, curious and tech-savvy child, a 21st-century kid who embodies the best of a globalized outlook (he's played by the director's son). Shot in black and white, the film was received with a four-minute standing ovation at its European premiere at the London Film Festival in October. Legendary star Shabana Azmi was moved to tweet: "A heartwarming film that celebrates the idea of India & tears at heartstrings. It's a must watch."

N. Padmakumar – Director