Indian cinema justly struts the stage at international film festivals. It has been consistently marking its presence at top festivals, including Cannes, Berlin and Venice, as well as at other festivals worldwide, including in Asia. While I watch films from all over the world for work and pleasure, I have a strong affinity for Asian cinema, and am always keen to know how India fares in the Asian context. The majority of firangs — and Indians — equate Indian cinema with Bollywood. So it is fascinating for me to observe Asian film competitions, where tiny and fledgling nations such as Sri Lanka and Iraqi Kurdistan, fare way better than India.

Avinash Arun, director of the film, Killa