Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal’s Maiden Production Wins International Laurels

Actor-producer Richa Chadha took to Instagram to share incredible news about her and Ali Fazal's maiden production, Girls Will Be Girls (2024), directed by Shuchi Talati. The film has been screened at several international film festivals and earned global acclaim. Starring Preeti Panigrahi and Kani Kasruti in the lead, the coming-of-age drama recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles. "We hope to bring this lovely film to India, it is an Indian film after all and we want our people to see it," Chadha expressed.

Earlier this year, Girls Will Be Girls also gained laurels at the Biarritz Film Festival in France, the Transylvania International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, where the film and Panigrahi each won an award.

Girls Will Be Girls Wins Big

Announcing the news about Girls Will Be Girls winning the award at the Indian Film Festival LA, Richa Chadha expressed gratitude. "Before the day ends, wanna express my gratitude to the team of ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ - this film is a gift that keeps on giving! We will always be proud of it!" she wrote in an Instagram post.

Chadha and Ali Fazal, who announced her pregnancy in February this year, expressed, "I wish we could travel but the reason as you know is that @alifazal9 (Fazal) and I are bringing in a little home production." Girls Will Be Girls is produced by their venture, Pushing Buttons Studios.

After her glorious run at the Indian Film Festival LA, Chadha wrote, "I love my friend Shuchi Talati, she’s the stuff of legend, you will see. I love @preetiwooman (Preeti Panigrahi), a breakthrough performance that won a special award for performance at @sundanceorg (Sundance) and she has before her an illustrious future!"

Further, she congratulated Kani Kasruti for not only winning laurels for Girls Will Be Girls but also for her other acclaimed project, All We Imagine As Light, which clinched a Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. "What a great year you’re having my beautiful, glorious friend!" Chadha wrote.

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A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha)

At the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, the film won the Audience Award in the 'World Dramatic Feature' category, while Panigrahi won the Special Jury Award for Acting. In an emotional post on social media, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal shared their moment of happiness with the world. 

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A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha)

In an introduction video posted on Sundance Institute's YouTube channel, director Suchi Talati shared her elation in being part of the few films selected for the festival and being able to take her Indian roots to the global stage. "It is heartening to see your film shot and conceptualised in India make it to this mammoth international festival," she expressed.

What Is It About?

Talati shared a glimpse of what the film would offer. "This coming year of age drama is a love story between a mother and a daughter. Even though it is very rooted in Indian ethos, I am glad it resonates with people across many continents," she said.

Girls Will Be Girls is the story of an Indian schoolgirl Mira on the brink of adulthood. Small-town woes, a crush on a classmate, and Mira's single mother are catalysts to the exploration of her self-identity; but do not conceive the film as a cliché, as there is a riveting and layered storyline waiting to unfold. The trailer promises an expedition that holds a tight grip on the viewers' intrigue. Watch the trailer to find out more.