Kirti Kulhari's 'Kinaare' to Premiere at Dharamshala Film Festival

The 15th Dharamshala International Film Festival is preparing to welcome cinema enthusiasts for an exciting lineup, highlighted by the premiere of Kirti Kulhari’s inaugural production venture, “Kinaare.” Translated as “Shores,” the film marks a significant milestone for Kulhari, who established her banner Kintsukuroi Films to bring independent visions to life. The festival itself will commence with Rima Das’s acclaimed, Berlin-awarded feature “Not a Hero,” setting a high artistic standard for the multi-day event.

Scheduled to run from October 29 to November 1 at the picturesque Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamshala, the festival will also extend its reach through an online edition running from November 2 to November 9. This hybrid approach ensures that a broader audience can engage with the curated selections of independent and international cinema that the festival is widely known for showcasing each year.

“Kinaare” is written and directed by the filmmaking duo of brothers Akbar Quadri and Azam Quadri. In the film, Kirti Kulhari stars as Amina, a single woman living in a village near Delhi. Her daily life consists of quietly tending to her elderly parents and maintaining the family home. The plot thickens when her cousin, portrayed by co-director Azam Quadri, unexpectedly returns after a fifteen-year absence, unearthing memories and unresolved tensions that once fractured the family.

As the narrative unfolds, the cousin's visit forces Amina to confront the ghosts of her past. By the time he eventually departs, she reaches a profound sense of peace and closure. The emotional weight of the story is supported by a strong ensemble cast that features Rajeev Siddhartha, Alka Amin, and Ravi Taneja, who help ground the film in authentic rural dynamics and deeply human interactions.

Reflecting on her journey into production, Kulhari shared that the script struck a deep personal chord. She noted the film's simple, heartwarming, and subtle tone, drawing comparisons to the Iranian cinema she has long admired. By choosing to produce the film independently through Kintsukuroi Films, alongside co-producers Abhishek Koka and Maansi Guptey, Kulhari maintained complete creative control to present the story exactly as envisioned.

Co-star Rajeev Siddhartha also praised the project, emphasizing the quality of the writing. He highlighted how the script valued the written word while offering actors the space to explore subtext and unspoken emotions. Siddhartha expressed confidence that the film's universal themes would deeply touch viewers, leaving them moved and subtly transformed from within after experiencing the narrative journey of “Kinaare.”