First time director Shadaab Mirza is on cloud nine at the moment, and with a good cause too. His first feature film Barkhaa starring Sara Loren and Taaha Shah, which is produced by first timer Shabana Hashmi, has been selected by the prestigious Australian Film Festival IFEFA in the Best Foreign Filmcategory. 

Leaving for Australia today, Shadaab spoke to us from the airport. “Not only me, the entire team is excited about this. My facebook and twitter handle are full of congratulatory messages. The International Film & Entertainment Festival of Australia is an Australian Government initiative to promote good, entertaining Indian and foreign films in their country. At the same time the festival also selects films made by new and upcoming talents from all over the world. This is a very big deal for us!”

Barkhaa, with its relatively modest but talented star cast had opened worldwide on August 29^th, opposite real heavyweights like Singham 2 and PK, but managed to hold its own for over 50 days at the marquee, owing largely to the story line, songs and powerful performances by the cast.

“My cast was amazing,” informed Shadaab. “Not only the lead pair Sara and Taaha, but the supportive cast of Ashiesh Roy, Puneet Issar, Shweta Pandit and Raashul Tandon have been mind-blowing in the film. Plus the music of the film is another talking point.”

A beautiful love story born in Himachal that grows in the seedy by-lanes of Mumbai, the film was chosen because of its sensitive portrayal of a woman’s fight for her own existence. The film is presented by Mr. Mahesh Bhatt, who has only words of praise for the debutant director Shadaab Mirza. “It’s hard to believe that this is Shadaab Mirza's debut movie, because according to the narrative and aesthetics needed, he does a good job.”

Well, here’s wishing the very best to this promising newcomer and his team, and hoping that they bring the winner’s trophy home.