Director Raam Reddy’s stunning and cinematic labor of love, The Fable, featuring Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role, has been awarded the Special Jury Prize at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 South Asia Competition. Its Asian premiere was held at MAMI last week. Announcing the award, filmmaker Kabir Khan described the film as a polished and creative film that showcases the passions of the director.

Ram Reddy is currently in Spain for another film festival and hence could not make it to the closing ceremony of MAMI. However, his father, producer Pratap Reddy, read the following message on behalf of the team: “We would like to thank MAMI for this wonderful opportunity to showcase our film at such a passionate and exciting festival. Our team worked wholeheartedly, overcoming many difficulties, to bring this dream to the big screen. We are deeply humbled and grateful for this recognition. The MAMI audience was in many ways our first audience and we consider ourselves lucky to have your support. Thank you all for making this dream come true.”

Director Raam Reddy said: “It is a beautiful feeling; It’s like a full circle! I had the chance to win the same award as Thithi in 2015; It is an indescribable happiness to return to MAMI with my second film and win the same award again. What made me feel that the movie was actually entertaining the audience as I had hoped, was not so much the award, but the incredible interactions and reactions of the audience. I’m delighted with the MAMI experience and really look forward to sharing The Fable with more audiences in India and around the world!

Actor Manoj Bajpayee said: “Being a part of The Fable was a transformative experience. The quiet complexity of the story challenged me as an actor. It was a privilege to portray a character that balances nature and human emotions. We started shooting before the pandemic, took a break, and then returned to complete it in the mountains. The crew prevailed against all odds, patiently waiting because we believed in Raam’s vision and passion. “The Special Jury Prize at the MAMI Festival reflects the power of the film and the dedication of everyone who made it possible.”

Executive Producers Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain of Sikhya Entertainment said: “We are incredibly proud of The Fable and the recognition it has received at MAMI. This award is a testament to the hard work, passion and resilience of the entire team, from our visionary director Raam Reddy to the extraordinary cast and crew. At Sikhya Entertainment, we always strive to champion bold, unique stories that push boundaries, and that’s exactly what The Fable is. “It’s an honor to be a part of this journey as Executive Producers, and we’re excited to bring this powerful, creative film to more audiences around the world.”

The film also features remarkable performances by Priyanka Bose, Deepak Dobriyal, Tillotama Shome, Hiral Sidhu and Awan Pookot. The film will continue its festival journey after a successful debut at MAMI. The Fable will be making its mark on the international festival circuit with multiple screenings at various prestigious film festivals over the next few weeks. The film will be screened at SEMINCI in Spain on October 25 and 26, with screenings at Teatro Zorrilla and Cines Broadway. Following this, The Fable heads to Brazil’s MOSTRA festival from October 17-20. The film will continue its global journey in November with screenings at the 3 Continents Festival in France, the Leeds International Film Festival and the Cork International Film Festival in Ireland.