StarDisney+ ‘Gulmohar’ production marks veteran Indian actor’s comeback film Sharmila Tagore and Rahul V. Chittella’s feature debut.

Tagore, who debuted with Satyajit Ray’s ‘The World of Apu’ (1959) was last seen in ‘Break Ke Baad’ (2010). Chittella has directed a few short films and previously worked with “Monsoon Wedding” director Mira Nair.

The cast also includes Manoj Baypayee (Rotterdam competition film “Joram”), Suraj Sharma (“Life of Pi”), Amol Palekar (“Farzi”) and Simran (“Petta”).

Set in Delhi, “Gulmohar” follows the last four days of the Batra family living in their 34-year-old family home as they move to a new town.

The film, co-written by Arpita Mukherjee and Chittella, grew out of the latter’s experiences of living and working in Nair’s house in Delhi, which was later sold.

“I was in Delhi for a few meetings in early 2019 and visited the house as it was filling up. When I saw all my favorite paintings and photographs being removed from the walls by the movers and packers, that’s when I had the idea to put Arpita and my story of family ties into context. of a sold and packed house. over the next four days,” said Chittella Variety.

“Gulmohar” is intended as a heartwarming family film. “I wanted to explore the meaning of family and home in today’s times, the only two things that ever mattered, more than ever. I wanted to explore the idea of ​​togetherness in a time when we are building walls between us,” Chittella said. “My assistant once asked me – ‘Why can’t we go a little bit in the dark with the script?’ But Arpita and I clearly wanted our characters to smile and cry and love each other together. Maybe that was the phase of life we ​​were in. There is too much polarization, darkness and division between us. We have to sit down, breathe and feel each other’s presence. It’s a real treasure that we often take for granted.

Chittella describes the experience of working with Tagore and Bajpayee as “beautiful and ecstatic” and that the veteran actors helped tremendously in getting the junior cast members to “give in to the idea of ​​being in an ensemble piece”. .

“Gulmohar” airs from March 3.

Watch the trailer here: