Indian Films and Series Shine at TIFF 50: A Historic Moment for Indian Cinema

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2025) became a landmark edition for Indian cinema. For the first time in TIFF’s history, India was represented with such diversity and scale: seven films, one web series, two restored classics, an experimental short, and even a women-led industry delegation. Running from September 4 to 14, 2025, the festival’s golden anniversary turned into a global stage for India’s stories—ranging from courtroom dramas and cult investigations to Gandhi’s early struggles and the timeless power of Sholay.

This wasn’t just about screenings—it was about signaling to the world that Indian cinema is no longer limited to song-and-dance stereotypes. It is bold, multilingual, socially conscious, and deeply global in its appeal.

Feature Films: New Voices, Bold Themes

Bandar (Monkey in a Cage) – Directed by Anurag Kashyap

Anurag Kashyap brought his trademark intensity to TIFF with Bandar, a courtroom drama starring Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra. Based on real cases, the film exposes India’s flawed prison system, where 77% of inmates are under trial and languish for years without justice. Against the backdrop of the #MeToo era, Bandar questions law, power, and accountability in digital-age India. Adding to its authenticity, Kashyap cast actors from multiple linguistic backgrounds—Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi—to reflect the linguistic mix inside Indian jails.

Homebound – Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan

Perhaps the most internationally hyped of the lot, Homebound was executive produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan (of Masaan fame). Starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, the story follows two childhood friends turned policemen, torn apart by India’s polarised politics. Inspired by Basharat Peer’s New York Times essay on migrant workers during the COVID lockdown, the film first stunned audiences at Cannes before earning emotional applause at TIFF. Critics praised it for humanising India’s class and caste divides without falling into clichés.

Bayaan – Directed by Bikas Ranjan Mishra

Representing India in TIFF’s Discovery Section, Bayaan stars Huma Qureshi as Detective Roohi. She investigates a godman in rural Rajasthan accused of sexual exploitation. The narrative is chilling yet uncomfortably familiar, exposing how systems often enable predators. Mishra’s sharp lens makes this a must-watch for those following the darker realities of small-town India.

In Search of the Sky (Vimukt) – Directed by Jitank Singh Gurjar

This Braj-language debut feature was the sole Indian entry in TIFF’s prestigious Centrepiece programme. It follows an elderly couple who bring their mentally challenged son to the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage in search of healing, while also fighting the looming loss of their ancestral land. Featuring mostly theatre actors, the film is raw, authentic, and highlights mental health stigma in rural India. Gurjar’s sensitive direction ensures that the film speaks beyond borders, proving that regional language cinema has universal resonance.

Restored Classics: Nostalgia with New Eyes

Sholay (1975) – Directed by Ramesh Sippy

No film represents Bollywood’s grandeur better than Sholay. TIFF 50 marked its 4K restored return, including never-seen-before deleted scenes and the original tragic ending, stretching the runtime to nearly four hours. The gala premiere at Toronto’s 1,800-seater Roy Thomson Hall was attended by Ramesh Sippy and Bobby Deol, who represented his father Dharmendra. The screening wasn’t just cinema—it was history being reborn for a global audience.

Days and Nights in the Forest (Aranyer Din Ratri, 1970) – Directed by Satyajit Ray

Another masterpiece returned in style. Thanks to a restoration push by Wes Anderson and execution by the Film Heritage Foundation, Satyajit Ray’s classic about four Calcutta men confronting class, love, and mortality during a countryside trip mesmerized TIFF viewers. It proved, yet again, that Ray’s storytelling is timeless, bridging the 1970s to today’s anxieties about friendship, desire, and human fragility.

A First for India: Web Series at TIFF

Gandhi – Directed by Hansal Mehta

For the first time ever, TIFF screened an Indian web series. Hansal Mehta’s Gandhi, starring Pratik Gandhi as young Mohandas, covers the years 1888–1915, focusing on Gandhi’s law studies in London and activism in South Africa. With Tom Felton (Harry Potter’s Draco Malfoy) playing Josiah Oldfield and music by A.R. Rahman, the series balances history with humanity. Instead of glorifying Gandhi, it presents him as a flawed, evolving man—earning a standing ovation at TIFF.

Shorts and Experiments

Disappeared – By Sohrab Hura

A six-minute short that screened in TIFF’s Wavelengths program, Disappeared uses a distorted single shot of a forest tent. Through sound, color, and texture, Hura transforms it into a surreal meditation on perception. It’s proof that Indian cinema is experimenting with form as much as content.

Beyond Films: India’s Historic Initiatives

• All-Women Delegation: For the first time, India sent a female-only group of six filmmakers—Arshaly Jose, Deepa Bhatia, Katyayani Kumar, Madhumita Sundararaman, Paromita Dhar, and Pramati Anand. Selected from 200+ applications through WAVES Bazaar, their presence symbolised inclusivity and gender progress.

• Bharat Pavilion: TIFF also debuted the WAVES Bazaar Pavilion, India’s first global film, media, and AVGC-XR marketplace in North America. Designed as a networking hub, it hosted B2B meetings and co-production pitches, marking India’s ambition to lead the international creative economy.
  

Global Impact and Reception

The Indian lineup at TIFF 50 proved how cinema from the subcontinent is becoming both globally relevant and artistically fearless.

• Homebound confirmed Neeraj Ghaywan’s place among world-class auteurs.

• Bandar and Bayaan sparked debate on justice and power in India.

• Gandhi pushed Indian web content into a truly international spotlight.

• Restorations of Sholay and Days and Nights in the Forest reminded audiences that Indian cinema has always been world-class—it just needed proper preservation.

With heavyweights like Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, and A.R. Rahman involved, TIFF 50 showed the West isn’t just admiring Indian cinema—it’s collaborating with it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which Indian films and series were selected for TIFF 2025?

Eight major works: Bandar, Homebound, Bayaan, In Search of the Sky (Vimukt), Sholay (restoration), Days and Nights in the Forest (restoration), Disappeared (short), and Hansal Mehta’s Gandhi series.

2. Why was Homebound so talked about?

Because it was backed by Martin Scorsese and tackled India’s migrant crisis and policing issues with emotional depth. Its success at Cannes carried over to TIFF, where it connected with global audiences.

3. What made the Gandhi series historic?

It’s the first Indian series ever screened at TIFF, presenting Gandhi’s formative years with international actors and music by A.R. Rahman.

4. Why was Sholay’s restoration special?

The TIFF 50 cut included deleted scenes and the original ending, turning the cult Bollywood blockbuster into a nearly four-hour epic.

5. What role did the Bharat Pavilion play?

It was India’s first official media marketplace in North America, giving Indian creators a chance to pitch to international buyers and form global collaborations.