Shorts & Mid-length · Filmmaker Q&A · World Premiere

Burning Roots, Blooming Fire Aadhunika Mithyabhasam

Directed by Abhay P

Screens as part of Programme 6: Journeys of Discovery.

Screening at DIFF 2026

Fri30 12:15 PM to 1:30 PMFriday 30 Oct · PictureTime 3

Plan it in the app

Opens the free DIFF 2026 app. It checks for clashes and adds walking time between screens.

Runtime: 24 min
Year: 2026
Country: India
Language: Malayalam
Subtitles: English
Premiere: World

Synopsis

In a changing village steeped in old lore, a young girl steps into a forbidden grove and uncovers a long-silenced red bloom; she awakens memories buried by power and time. Her quiet act stirs forgotten histories and resistance, blending folklore and reality to reflect on loss, memory and survival.

Director

Abhay PAbhay P is an architect-turned-filmmaker with a Master’s in Film and Video Communication from NID Ahmedabad. His documentary Noises from the Basement premiered at MAMI 2024, and his short fiction Aadhunika Mithyabhasam was selected as a Curator’s Pick at the Kerala Film Market.

Cast and crew

Producer: National Institute of Design Ahmedabad, Abhay P
Writer: Abhay P
Cinematographer: Gorkey Patwal
Editor: Abhay P
Sound: Thamir M K
Music: Dhruv Kaaareeeghar
Cast: Niral Ranjith, Kaathila, Achuthanandan, Ranjith Vengodan, Ammini Chandralayam

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Burning Roots, Blooming Fire Aadhunika Mithyabhasam

Screening at DIFF 2026

Synopsis

Director

Cast and crew

More shorts & mid-length at DIFF 2026