Birds in the Dark Hanere De Panchi

Synopsis

As dawn breaks, Amir, a call centre executive, is caught in the forest by police informer Jagtar, who mistakes him for a suspect. Bound together on an arduous journey, an unexpected bond forms between them. When Jagtar realizes his mistake, they part with an unspoken promise. Jagtar returns to his village by the River Beas, where Dilraj, his childhood friend, is leading landless labourers in their struggle to reclaim the earth. When Amir arrives searching for him, Jagtar is caught between a troubled past and a possible new future. By the river, new solidarities emerge, and a reckoning awaits.

Director

Shashank WaliaShashank Walia studied cinematography at the Film and Television Institute of India and filmmaking at the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre. His debut short fiction, In the Month of Love, which he wrote and directed, premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and screened at festivals including Kyiv…

Cast and crew

Producer

Reema Kaur, Hansal Mehta, Sahil Saigal

Writer

Shashank Walia

Cinematographer

Shashank Walia

Editor

Reema Kaur

Sound

Shashank Kothari

Music

Nipun Bhatnagar

Cast

Mauli Singh, Sapną Dąs, Harwinder Aujla, Shahnawaz Bhat

Festivals and awards

• Busan International Film Festival 2026

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