Naseeruddin Shah film 'Rehmat' premieres at Locarno Festival

Gurvinder Singh’s first narrative feature, “Rehmat,” will compete in the main competition at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland next month. The film, starring veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, follows the story of a rural family in northern India who lose a 19‑year‑old son to a drug overdose after the filmmakers first visit their ancestral home. The tragedy, which occurred just weeks after the crew arrived, underscores the film’s claim to be a genuine reflection of the community’s grief.

The decision to film in the real house of the family that lost its son was deliberate. Singh, who has spent the past decade making documentaries about under‑reported Indian villages, wanted the setting to feel authentic. “We didn’t want to create a backdrop,” he told Variety. “The house, the people, the grief – all of it is real.” The village, located in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district, has struggled with a sudden surge in drug use among its youth, a crisis that has left several families devastated. By embedding the story in this community, “Rehmat” aims to raise awareness of a problem that has largely gone unnoticed by mainstream media.

Locarno’s main competition is known for spotlighting bold, socially relevant cinema. “Rehmat” joins a slate that includes the Oscar‑nominated “Past Lives” and the French drama “The Good Husband.” The film’s 90‑minute runtime and its use of Urdu and Hindi dialogue will appeal to the festival’s international jury. Shah, who has worked with directors like Anurag Kashyap and Ramin Bahrani, has praised Singh’s vision, saying, “It’s important that these films get made.” The production team hopes the festival exposure will secure distribution deals in Europe and the United States.

After its premiere, “Rehmat” is slated for a limited theatrical run in Mumbai and a digital release on a major streaming platform. The filmmakers plan to use the film’s success to fund a community outreach program that educates rural youth about drug addiction. By turning a personal tragedy into a public conversation, Singh and Shah aim to give the village’s grief a platform that could help prevent future loss.