Srijit's new film 'Uma' selected at top int'l film fests

Director Srijit Mukherji's new venture 'Uma', starring Jisshu Sengupta and Rudranil Ghosh, has been officially selected for this year's New York Indian Film Festival and London Indian Film Festival, a statement issued by producer Shree Venkatesh Films (SVF) said.

The film also marks the debut of Jishhu Sengupta's elder daughter, Sara.

Mukherjee said he is "humbled" by the response the film has been receiving at festivals abroad.

"I am happy to learn that the story of 'Uma' is receiving positive response from film fraternities across the world," he said.

The New York film fest is scheduled between May 7 and 12 and the London-based event in June. The film has been selected in the "feature category" of the two fests.

'Uma' has been inspired by the story of Canadian boy Evan Leversage, who died of cancer in 2015.

"Leversage came to be known as 'The Boy Who Moved Christmas' after people of his hometown staged Christmas, two months in advance, to ensure that he could mark the festival before death. The film is inspired by that event," Mukherjee, who won the National Award in 2014 for 'Jaatishwar', said.

The film is about a young girl who is fighting a terminal disease, a father who is struggling to make his daughter's dreams come true, and a director, who is haunted by his past.

"Uma, enacted by Sara Sengupta, is a girl who has been brought up in Austria. Her father Himadri, played by Jisshu, takes her to Kolkata and sets up a Durga Puja, much ahead of time, to fulfill her wishes," Mukherji said.

The real-life chemistry between Jishhu Sengupta and his daughter Sara is reflected beautifully in the film, Mukherjee said.

Uma is set for release on June 8, this year.