Team 'Newton' overwhelmed with response in Berlin

The team of "Newton" is overwhelmed after the movie got a warm reception at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere earlier this week.

Produced by Drishyam Films, "Newton" is directed by Amit V. Masurkar and features Rajkummar Rao. It was selected in the 'International Forum of New Cinema' of the Berlinale on Friday at the Zoo Palast, one of the oldest and most prestigious venues of the Berlinale. It received a standing ovation, followed by an engaging question and answer session after the screening.

Rajkummar was present at the screeningalong with actors Anjali Patil and Pankaj Tripathi, producer Manish Mundra and music composer Naren Chandavarkar.

Rajkummar, who plays the title role, said in a statement: "I was excited and nervous before the premiere but the kind of response we got after the screening and the way the audience here related to 'Newton', was very overwhelming. The warm appreciation by the Berlinale crowd left me humbled."

"I am elated by what we have achieved with this film already. Now, I am just waiting for my home audience to watch it."

Masurkar, who has also co-written the film, said: "We were all very happy that an audience so diverse connected to an Indian story so rooted. They appreciated the finer nuances and the subtle moments in the story which we had assumed only Indians would get."

Mundra said he felt joyous when the black comedy generated "audience's laughter at all the right moments".

The movie is a black comedy around an election day in central India.

--IANS

rb/vt