MUMBAI MIRROR (September 12, 2018)

After receiving standing ovations and awards at the London and Melbourne film festivals, debutant director and Mumbai boy Tabrez Noorani’s film Love Sonia is set to make India proud on the international stage one more time.

Love Sonia will open in China in October after its India release on September 14. The film has already won many awards, including Best Indie Film, and Best Supporting Actor at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as well as Best Outstanding Achievement award at the London Indian Film Festival to Richa Chadha. It also features the song “I Am More” on which Oscar winning composer AR Rahman has collaborated with break-out artiste Bishop Briggs.

Hindi films’ opening in China is preceded by their Indian release, which is followed by a long process of approvals. It can take 12-18 months, but Love Sonia was exempt from these formalities. In fact, after watching the audience reaction at the London screenings, and the strong media buzz, Chinese distributors bought the film’s rights even before its India release. Films from India, like Dangal, with strong female characters fighting odds, have done well in China and the distributors feel that Love Sonia’s inspiring story of a 17-year-old who takes on trafficking to save her sister will resonate with the audience.

It’s an extremely proud moment for Tabrez who said, “I am thrilled that the film is opening in China and I am happy to have a different part of the world see this brave story.” The film has a strong ensemble cast of Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, Rajkummar Rao, Sai Tamhankar, Adil Hussain, Anupam Kher, Demi Moore, Mark Duplass, Freida Pinto and introducing Mrunal Thakur and Riya Sisodia.

Love Sonia is the story of a young Indian village girl (Mrunal) whose life is irrevocably changed when she gets entrapped in the global sex trade while trying to save the one person she is closest to, her sister.

Tamasha Talkies and Samraaj Talkies in association with India Take One Productions, Cinemantra Entertainment and Media & Dynasty Consulting Group present Love Sonia. It is produced by the Academy Award-nominated producer of Life of Pi, David Womark, and Tabrez Noorani, co-produced by Amar Butala. Executive Producers include Shalini Thackeray, Deepak Nayar and Pravesh Sahni. The Dynasty Consulting Group was instrumental in setting up the project. Zee Studios will release the film in India. Love Sonia releases on September 14.