Ajay Govind’s Basanti Tailors, produced by Drishyam Films in association with the Azim Premji Foundation, continues to charm global audiences — a gentle tale from India’s independent cinema that celebrates empathy, relationships, and emotional resilience.

Basanti Tailors stands out as a shining example of Independent Cinema in India, crafted with sensitivity and purpose. Directed by Ajay Govind and produced by Drishyam Films in collaboration with the Azim Premji Foundation, this Indie Film continues to gain recognition at international festivals across continents. Through its universal message of empathy, sustainability, and community, Basanti Tailors exemplifies the storytelling power that defines India’s new wave of Indie Films making their mark on the global stage.

The heartwarming Hindi short film Basanti Tailors, directed by Ajay Govind and produced by Drishyam Films in association with the Azim Premji Foundation, is making an impressive mark on the international festival circuit. The film has secured official selections at leading festivals in India, Canada, Europe, the USA, and Russia.

Its 2025 journey includes screenings at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, Imagine India International Film Festival (Madrid), International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), Kids First! International Film Festival, and International Film Festival of South Asia (Toronto), among others. The latest selection comes at the 6th Indic Utsav Film Festival, which will be held in Dallas from November 7th to 9th. Ajay’s last Malayalam feature Madappally United was also selected at the Indic Utsav Film Festival.

“It’s special to be returning to Indic Utsav with another film, and this time I’m excited that it also means a physical screening of the film in Dallas,” says Govind. “I’m looking forward to seeing the characters of Basanti, Ginny, and Anupama not just bring a smile to the faces of audiences, but also carry the message for a more compassionate world!”

Celebrating Independent Cinema and Strong Performances

The titular character in the film is played by acclaimed film actor and theatre personality Sohaila Kapur, in a strikingly different avatar from the urban characters she’s often known for. Other prominent roles feature actors Alaina, Radha Bhatt, Sanvir, and Manish Panwar.

“It was a unique experience to play a simple pahari woman running a small business to sustain herself, so different from the high-society, manipulative women I have so far played,” said Sohaila. “Cooking on a mud chulha in a smoke-ridden kitchen, washing clothes while sitting on her haunches by the riverside, and bantering in a lilting Uttarakhandi accent was a balancing act in more ways than one,” she adds with a laugh.

A Tender Tale of Empathy and Resilience

Set in the Himalayan village of Halduwala near Dehradun, Basanti Tailors follows 59-year-old Basanti, who runs a small tailoring shop with her spirited 9-year-old granddaughter Ginny. Their quiet world shifts when Anupama, a new resident in the village, commissions Basanti to repurpose old clothes into cushion covers, bedsheets, and bags. When Ginny grows attached to a T-shirt destined for recycling, only to discover it belongs to Anupama’s son and is his favourite, Basanti must find a solution rooted in empathy and tact.

A tender exploration of relationships, kindness, and the balance between emotional attachment and practical necessity, the film gently incorporates themes of recycling and circularity into a narrative full of warmth and humour — making it relatable to audiences worldwide and reinforcing the growing strength of India’s independent cinema movement.