Guneet Monga Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap To Present Manoj Bajpayee’s 'Jugnuma'; Raam Reddy Directorial Locks September 12 Release

In an Avengers-style alliance for Indian cinema, multiple National Award winners and an Academy Award recipient have come together for one film: Jugnuma (The Fable), headlined by Manoj Bajpayee. Directed by Raam Reddy (of Thithi fame), the magical realism drama will hit the big screen on September 12, with two globally renowned names coming on board as Executive Producers: Guneet Monga Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap.

Also starring Deepak Dobriyal, Priyanka Bose and Tillotama Shome, among others, Jugnuma is Reddy's second feature directorial after his acclaimed 2016 Kannada debut Thithi, which had bagged a National Award.

Set in the late 80s, Jugnuma follows Dev (Bajpayee), who discovers mysteriously burnt trees in his sprawling estate of fruit orchards nestled in the Indian Himalayas. In spite of all efforts, more fires break out, leading him to see himself and his family for who they truly are.

"I had loved Raam’s Thithi, which was so rooted and genuine, and with Jugnuma, he has created a film that feels timeless," Kashyap said in a statement. The acclaimed filmmaker, who has previously collaborated with Bajpayee on the game-changing two-part epic Gangs of Wasseypur, called his act in the film "unlike anything" the audience has seen before.

"The film is deeply humane yet magical in the way it unfolds. And at the centre of it, Manoj Bajpayee delivers a performance unlike anything we’ve seen before — restrained, enigmatic, and profoundly moving," Kashyap added.

A poster of Manoj Bajpayee's 'Jugnuma'

Guneet Monga Kapoor (Presenter & Executive Producer), Co-Founder, Sikhya Entertainment, said Jugnuma "unsettled, comforted, and reminded" her of cinema’s deepest purpose. "Raam Reddy is one of the most exciting voices in Indian cinema today, and with Manoj Bajpayee and an extraordinary ensemble cast bringing his vision to life, this film feels like a modern classic in the making."

Reddy called creating Jugnuma a deeply personal journey, revealing that it draws heavily from memory, folklore and history. The filmmaker said he is grateful that the film resonated with global audiences—including premiering at Berlin International Film Festival, winning Best Film at Leeds International Film Festival and Special Jury Prize at Mami Mumbai Film Festival.

"The film was designed to be a larger-than-life sensory experience and it was always my dream that its sense of scale should be experienced in theatres," he said.

With dialogue penned by Varun Grover, the film will get an India-wide release by Ranjan Singh of Flip Films, who called Jugnuma one of the rare movies that "reflect the passion and honesty with which it was mounted in every frame."

Shot on film by Sunil Ramkrishna Borkar, Jugnuma also stars Hiral Sidhu and Awan Pookot and is produced by Prspctvs Production, in collaboration with Maxmedia and Sikhya Entertainment.