Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer The Bypass to be screened at Bandra Film Fest

The film The Bypass, starring the late actor Irrfan Khan alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui, will be screened at the Bandra Film Festival under the theme "Hidden Gems" and will be released on August 30.

The Bypass is a 2003 silent Bollywood film shot on a deserted road in Rajasthan. Having no dialogue, this short proves to deliver pure cinema through the spectacular, raw, and textbook acting of the actors. The film was earlier screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Aubagne Film Festival.

The story of the film is about two friends, played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sundar Dan, who frequently mug and ultimately kill the people who travel by the nearby road. Irrfan Khan played the role of a corrupt police officer in the film.

Amit Kumar said, "In my first film, The Bypass, I had the honour of bringing two consummate actors together, the late Irrfan and Nawaz. It was one of those times when everything came together perfectly: the fabulous cast, the wonderful crew, and the evocative locations."

He further shared, "My film is also a tribute to the silent era, where acting chops, a strong script, and visual storytelling were the most important tools of filmmaking."

The filmmaker expressed his gratitude for the opportunity of working with his friend from film school, Oscar-winning Asif Kapadia.

He also appreciates the effort that the Bandra Film Festival is putting forth to showcase interesting films that may not have had exposure in the mainstream.

As British filmmaker and producer of The Bypass, Asif Kapadia said, "The Bypass was a key moment in my journey as a filmmaker. It was a long time ago, but it still feels so vivid, the crazy experience far off the beaten track in the burning hot desert. Was it a dream? Or a nightmare? For a film to bring together the late great, dearly loved and missed Irrfan and the fantastic Nawaz, at the start of their incredible careers. My good friend Amit Kumar writing and directing, what I think is his best film, because it was made with no compromises."

Asif referred to his teammates as "family" and praised the work of cinematographer Rajeev Ravi and composer Oscar winner Dario Marianelli. BAFTA winner Andy Shelley edited the film and created the sound design.

According to Kapadia, The Bypass passes the test of time admirably, which is the only accurate way to judge any movie. He said it's still just as bright, challenging, startling, and unpolished as the day it was finished. The filmmaker called it pure cinema, perfect in every way, and ought to be viewed by as many people as possible.

The Bandra Film Festival has been showcasing an array of features and unique films based on the three categories: Hidden Gems, Off The Beaten Path, and New Discoveries-on its YouTube channel, continuing to champion the cause of independent films and filmmakers.