NYIFF 2025-Madam Driver and Humans In The Loop

Madam Driver
Director: Indrajit Nattoji
Starring: Kitu Gidwani,Bhavna Pani,Ankit Siwach
Run time: 55 Mins 8 Secs
Language: Hindi
Year Made: 2024
Country: India

Synopsis:
"Madam Driver" is a coming-of-age film centred on Devika Dixit, a 55-year-old woman from a small town in Gujarat, India, who defies societal norms by learning to drive. Despite facing deeply ingrained stereotypes, Devika bravely challenges her own beliefs and enlists the help of Hassan, a reluctant driving instructor. Through their journey of lessons, arguments, and unexpected challenges, Devika strives to overcome her fear of driving, while inspiring Hassan to reevaluate his own life choices. The story takes an unexpected turn when Devika, still lacking confidence in her driving skills, must assist Hassan's wife during a crucial moment. "Madam Driver" is a heartwarming story of overcoming loss, navigating grief, finding the courage to move forward, and the joy of reinventing oneself.

Director: Indrajit Nattoji
Indrajit Nattoji, a Master of Design from the National Institute of Design, is an award-winning director, visual-artist, and producer. He has led Blink Pictures for over 22 years, creating more than 400 TVCs and TV broadcast brands. His feature film releases include Aagey Se Right and AAFAT-e-ISHQ. His work also spans acclaimed large-scale film installations and hand-painted music videos like Rangi Saari. As an artist, he exhibited his paintings in art galleries in Kolkata and Mumbai. In 2023, he launched I.N.K. Pictures, a content development and film production company.

Humans In The Loop

Director: Aranya Sahay
Runtime: 1 hour 14 minutes
Language: Hindi
Country: India

Synopsis:
An indigenous/ tribal woman begins interacting with artificial intelligence while working at a data centre in remote Jharkhand (an indigenous province of India).
Nehma, an indigenous woman from the Oraon tribe, returns to her village with her children Dhaanu (12) and Guntu(1), after her divorce. She begins to work as a data labeller, training the ‘childlike’ AI models to differentiate objects. While Nehma faces the challenge of giving Dhaanu - forever tempted to flee back to the city - a reason to stay, she also notices AI adopting harmful human biases, echoing prejudices against her own community.

Director: Aranya Sahay
Aranya is an Indian filmmaker based out of Mumbai. Having studied at St. Stephen's College, Aranya went onto study Direction at FTII, Pune. This was soon followed by assisting stints with Imtiaz Ali and Patrick Graham as an Associate Director & Director’s Assistant.

Aranya has directed five short films, of which Songs for Babasaheb and Chait have screened at Mumbai International Film Festival, Signs Films Festival and Jaffna Film Festival. In 2021, his film 'Saaya' was selected as a ‘Film Bazaar Recommends’ project. He was a participant and grant winner in the Museum of Imagined Futures Impact Fellowship Programme in 2023.

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