Rotterdam Prizewinner Arun Karthick’s Film Bazaar Project ‘Aanaikatti Blues’ Explores Rural Love Story Against Backdrop of Gang Culture

Director Arun Karthick (Rotterdam selection “Sivapuranam,” Rotterdam winner “Nasir”) returns to Film Bazaar with “Aanaikatti Blues,” a story of young love set against the backdrop of rural gang culture in an Indian mountain village.

The film follows Gopi, 22, and Vishnupriya, 20, as they navigate a controversial live-in relationship while Gopi becomes increasingly entangled with a local gang. The narrative follows Gopi’s descent into substance abuse through his involvement with “The 46 Gang,” a group of young men occupied with drinking, smoking, hunting, and cricket betting. As his addiction deepens and paranoia sets in, the story tracks the impact on his relationship with Vishnupriya, culminating in a series of events that threaten their future together.

Related Stories

VIP+

The Xbox Games That Should Expand Microsoft’s PlayStation Embrace

Mani Ratnam Unpacks Hit Historical Epic 'Ponniyin Selvan' at International Film Festival of India Masterclass

“I was initiated into the sub-culture of small-town gang-life which led to some devastating personal consequences. The rush of love, the thrill of addiction, and the crushing weight of responsibility is why I want to tell this story,” Karthick tells Variety.

The film examines the intersection of tradition and modernity through the lens of youth culture in rural India. “The film is an exploration of live-in relationship between two young lives and the consequences of letting oneself drift into a vortex of village gossips and substance abuse,” says Karthick.

The project is backed by production company Manvasanai, whose name translates to “the scent of the earth.” Producer Madhu Mohan explains their involvement: “We started Manvasanai to tell stories of rootedness, nature, and native realities. Arun’s past work, with its authenticity and depth, has always embodied these values, and ‘Aanaikatti Blues’ takes it further with a deeply personal yet universal resonance that we couldn’t ignore.”

Producer Mathivanan Rajendran, who previously collaborated with Karthick on “Nasir,” sees “Aanaikatti Blues” as a continuation of their creative partnership. “This story celebrates the raw, unfiltered joy of being alive. When I first heard it, I thought, ‘What a life!’—a feeling I knew had to be shared,” says Rajendran.

At Film Bazaar, which is the project market component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, the team seeks to connect with potential co-producers and sales agents. “We aim to evangelize ‘Aanaikatti Blues,’ connect with co-producers who align with our vision, and engage with sales agents and festival programmers who can help us secure wider distribution channels to take this rooted, universal story to global audiences,” Mohan says.