The Fable, directed and witten by Raam Reddy, made history by becoming the first Indian film to bag the Best Film award at the Leeds International Film Festival 2024.
The Raam Reddy directorial had its world premiere in February at the Berlinale Film Festival 2024. Starring Manoj Bajpayee, Priyanka Bose, Ravi Bisht, Tillotama Shome and Deepak Dobriyal, the film bagged the Special Jury Prize at the 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
On accepting the award, Reddy revealed that he was ecstatic that he had the chance to present the film a such a prestigious film festival. “Leeds is an incredible festival, not just because of its amazing heartfelt curation but also because it is an Academy Award qualifying festival that screened nearly 250 amazing films this year! I got a chance to present The Fable in person in Leeds for the UK premiere and the audience reaction to the film was so engaging, it was amazing. This recognition of Best Film on such an important international platform makes me feel thankful and fulfilled as a filmmaker. I want to dedicate this award to my amazing team, whose sustained passion and effort over the years have brought The Fable to life!”
Bajpayee also had a few words to share. “I am incredibly honoured to be a part of The Fable and to see it resonate with audiences globally. Working with director Raam Reddy, whose thoughtful storytelling and unique blend of magical realism added such depth to this project, alongside Pratap Reddy, Juhi Agarwal, and later, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain, has been a profound experience. My co-stars Priyanka Bose, Deepak Dobriyal, and Tillotama Shome brought extraordinary talent to this journey. Winning the Best Film award at Leeds is not just a triumph for our film but a proud moment for Indian cinema. I hope The Fable continues to inspire and touch people around the world.”
About The Fable
The film, set in 1989 in northeast India, follows Dev (Bajpayee), the patriarch of a family of four, who is settled in a large, once-colonial estate. They live a peaceful life until one day, Dev finds a burnt apple blossom tree in his estate. In the days to follow, he discovers more trees and bushes have been burnt. Dev assumes that the poor-but-loyal employees working on his property or Nomads are responsible for it.