M Cream Wins on Home Turf!

After winning top honors at film festivals across the United States and Europe, “M Cream” has bagged the Yellow Rose Award for ‘Best Upcoming Feature Film’ at the recently concluded 7th Jaipur International Film Festival held in the Pink City!

Following the exploits of a group of university students on a quest to attain a mythic drug, “M Cream” paints a portrait of a new and rebellious generation in India. At a glittering ceremony held at the regal Golcha cinema in the heart of Jaipur, “M Cream” walked away with yet another festival trophy! Other award winners included renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi who received the ‘International Lifetime Award’ and Indian film star Dilip Kumar who received the ‘National Lifetime Award’. Former Miss Iran Melica Amina and Festival Director Hanu Roj were on hand to give away the awards.



A proven festival darling “M Cream” is set to hit cinemas nationwide later this year. Writer/Director Agneya Singh commented, ‘we are delighted to have received this award in Jaipur! There’s nothing quite as satisfying as being recognized on your home turf.’ On a film festival blitzkrieg, “M Cream” has won the ‘Best Feature Film’ at the 2014 Rhode Island Film Festival, the ‘Best Foreign Feature’ at the Indie Spirit Film Festival and the ‘Cult Feature’ at the Queen City Film Festival. The film was also screened at the prestigious Cork International Film Festival in Ireland and at the 28th Braunschweig International Film Festival in Germany. The win at Jaipur marks the first award for the film in India. Singh says, ‘we are humbled and thrilled by the overwhelming response to the film thus far! Both audiences abroad as well as those here at home have connected with the film and related to the characters. It just goes to show that even though we have explored the socio-political reality of India, the issues in the film have a universal appeal. This reaffirms my understanding that we all face the same struggles irrespective of where we live.’

When asked about the importance and relevance of film festivals Singh explains, ‘Festivals are an integral component of the indie film process. Not only does it help generate buzz and interest for small films that could never compete with the publicity campaigns of mainstream films but the privilege of screening your film for true cineastes cannot be explained in words!’ Even though the dominance of Bollywood remains intact, independent movies are leveling the playing field with innovative storylines. ‘Indeed indie films are produced in modest budgets but I find that many of them can resonate with the audience on a much deeper level than some of their mainstream counterparts seem to be able to do’, elaborates Singh. Whatever the future may hold for parallel cinema, it remains clear that films such as “M Cream” are stirring up the pot and redefining the way the world looks at contemporary Indian cinema. Take it or leave it but you can’t ignore it!