Once a corporate leader, Manish Mundra capitalized on his fondness for cinema in 2014 and produced acclaimed films like Ankhon Dekhi, Masaan, Newton, Waiting and more. Mundra, the founder of Drishyam Films, introduced the Indian audience to quality content with enriching stories and characters. This year, however, he makes his way to the big screen as a director and brings the story of a seventeen-year-old rape survivor Siya. Mundra makes his directorial debut with a social drama film starring Pooja Pandey as Siya and Vineet Kumar as Mahender.
With the trailer release today, makers introduced the audience to Siya, a strong-headed teen from the Thakur community in Uttar Pradesh who is kidnapped and raped by a powerful MLA. She is set to seek justice. On her journey to avenge her perpetrators and throw them behind bars, she is assisted by her uncle’s friend, Mahender played by Vineet Kumar. Watch the trailer here:
As she pursues justice against the MLA of Uttar Pradesh and her kidnappers, Siya gains nationwide attention. However, a traumatizing change of events makes her wonder if the battle for justice is even worth it if no one is alive to witness it. The film sheds light on the rape crisis in India where helpless women like seventeen-year-old Siya are trapped in the vicious circle of power and patriarchy. Siya becomes the voice of many rape survivors in India who are silenced by their abusers and wait outside courts with bated breaths. Will Siya and her family get justice? That’s a pertinent question Mundra plans to answer in his heart-wrenching next.
While Mundra makes his directorial debut, he also co-writes the film with Haider Rizvi and Samah. Produced by Drishyam Films, Siya will release nationwide on September 16, 2022.
This is a partnered post with Drishyam Films.