MUMBAI: Indian 8mm film “The Storm, The Calm, The Madness, The Magic,” written & directed by Nihar Palwe, has been officially selected as one of the Top 8 films globally in the prestigious
Straight 8 competition. The film will have its Cannes Premiere during the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025 at Cinema Olympia, Cannes followed by its World Premiere at BFI IMAX in London on May 24.
Straight 8 is a legendary UK based filmmaking challenge where participants must shoot a film on a single Super 8mm cartridge, edited entirely in-camera, with sound submitted blind. No post-production, no retakes, just pure, instinctive storytelling. Out of hundreds of entries from around the world, only the top 8 are selected for premiere at Cannes.
This marks the first time in over 25 years of the competition that an Indian film has ever made it to Straight 8’s Top 8 since its inception, breaking new ground for Indian filmmakers
in the experimental, analog space.
“This is a huge moment, not just personally, but for Indian cinema as a whole. It’s an honour to represent the country on such an unfiltered, global platform,” said writer/director Nihar Palwe, who also runs Mumbai-based production house Desi Cut Productions.
The soundscape is as crucial as the visuals in this film. The music was composed by Adith Anande, who scored the entire film blindly, without ever seeing a single frame, a challenge in itself, and one he met with incredible emotional clarity.
“Composing without the visuals was terrifying at first, but once I leaned into the unknown, it became deeply emotional. I had to feel what the film might be, not see it,” said Adith
Anande, Music Composer.
The film stars Prit Kamani (Middle Class Love, Maska) and Aditi Sandhya Sharma (Fighter, Deva), two rising talents in mainstream Hindi cinema, who took on the extraordinary challenge of performing with no second takes and no playback. In a format where every movement, glance, and emotion had to land in a single shot, their deeply internal performances bring tenderness and quiet strength to a story about purpose, illusion and finding meaning in chaos.
The role of the antagonist is played by Surender Thakur, whose intense physical presence and grounded performance bring powerful contrast to the protagonist’s vulnerability. His scenes, shot in a single take with no cuts, demanded not just precision, but pure instinct and discipline, and he delivered both with remarkable restraint.
The film’s cinematographer, Leslie D’Souza, executed the director’s vision using only the camera’s built-in viewfinder, making each shot a single attempt at visual storytelling. No playback, no retakes. Just raw, analog risk.
The film was shot on an original USSR-era Zenit Quarz 1x8S-2 Super 8 camera, a beautifully preserved piece of engineering from the bygone era. Every frame was exposed manually,
with no monitor or playback, just instinct and trust.
The project was brought to life by Executive Producer Yash Barua, whose steady hand helped navigate the film’s many creative and logistical challenges. His presence behind the scenes enabled the film’s bold, analog vision to reach the world stage.
The cast was brought together by Ashish Kumar Manghnani (CastingWaala), who played a crucial role in shaping the film’s on-screen energy.
At his lowest, with nothing left, a glimpse of her earrings sparks a fire within: A purpose? Or just another illusion?
Shot on a single roll of 8mm film. The film’s story, shot entirely in sequence with no post production, captures themes of chaos, serenity, and artistic surrender, mirroring the very nature of the Straight 8 format.
The film was made in association with Harkat Studios, an international boutique arts studio and alternative performance space based in Mumbai and Berlin. Harkat is known for its
commitment to analog filmmaking, hosting events like the 16mm Film Festival, and supporting experimental cinema through its artist-run film lab and community initiatives.
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