Former Bron executive and Entropy Media founder Anjay Nagpal has come aboard as executive producer on “Mard Mombatti,” the directorial debut of filmmaker Guneet Dogra set to premiere at the 20th annual Tasveer Film Festival & Market in Seattle.
Nagpal, whose producing credits include Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man,” Todd Phillips’ “Joker” and Jay Roach’s “Bombshell,” was drawn to the Punjabi-language short after viewing a rough cut of the intimate drama.
Tasveer runs Oct. 8-12 in Seattle, with the Oscar-qualifying South Asian showcase presenting 109 films from around the world.
Set against the backdrop of Punjab and unfolding over a single night in an old house, “Mard Mombatti” stars Harleen Sethi, who earned critical praise for her work in Netflix’s acclaimed Indian series “Kohrra,” alongside Dinkar Sharma, known for Tribeca title “Two Sisters and a Husband.” The film explores the tension between societal expectations and personal desires through the character of Sonu (Sharma), with Dogra experimenting with narrative structure in his helming bow.
“I first met Guneet in connection to another project and just happened to watch a rough cut of his short film,” Nagpal said. “I was so moved by the story and the craft with which a young debut filmmaker had handled such a complex subject. When I found out about the unbelievably limited resources the film was made in, I was even more impressed. I’m incredibly thrilled and proud to be part of ‘Mard Mombatti’s’ journey and supporting Guneet’s vision.”
Dogra cut his teeth as a producer at Indian indie powerhouse Sikhya Entertainment, the banner behind Academy Award winner “The Elephant Whisperers.” During his tenure there, he wore multiple hats in production and producing capacity on projects including 2015 Busan International Film Festival opener “Zubaan,” Netflix film “Pagglait,” Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Monsoon Shootout” before transitioning to the director’s chair.
“‘Mard Mombatti’ is about the shadows we bury — of desire, of identity, of the silences that eat away at us when we cannot speak,” Dogra said. “To have my debut film premiere at Tasveer, a festival that has nurtured South Asian voices with immense care, feels like the most generous beginning. Having Anjay’s support as executive producer is both humbling and inspiring — it tells me that a small, fragile film made with limited means can still find belief from someone who has worked at the highest level.”