Monga boards Yash Raj Films’ Titli

Produced by Dibakar Banerjee, the film is a departure from YRF’s usual output of big-budget event films. It revolves around the volatile relationship between two brothers – one of whom runs away from home to escape his oppressive family, but turns to a life of crime.

In development for more than two years, the script for Titli was selected for Film Bazaar’s Screenwriter’s Lab in 2012 and won the Post-Production Award at Film Bazaar’s Work-In-Progress Lab in 2013.

Monga is renowned as the producer of Hindi-language new wave films such as The Lunchbox, Shaitan and Gangs Of Wasseypur. She will assist the international sales, promotion and festival strategies for Titli, starting in Sundance and Berlin.

”Titli is a very strong film and I’m thrilled to be part of the team assisting in the international approach moving forward,” said Monga.

“It only strengthens our belief that as a film-making nation our stories and films are reaching out to a wider audience and are being accepted. Titli is a really powerful movie from Kanu Behl. It took us the last five years to be able to create the right platform and interest for the new wave hitting Indian cinema internationally. With Titli, I hope to take it forward.” 

YRF recently released the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time – blockbuster Dhoom: 3, which has grossed around $90m worldwide. Avtar Panesar, YRF’s vice president, international operations, said: “We are delighted to have Guneet on Titli, exploring a wider audience beyond the diaspora. Guneet’s expertise with her films internationally, coupled with YRF’s distribution networks of over 50 international territories across the globe, will ensure that the film breaks further ground.”

Producer Dibakar Banerjee said: “Kanu Behl’s Titli is a film that turns all the tropes of an Indian film on its head. Its take on patriarchy and the family system breaks new ground, making the story both universal and uniquely personal at the same time.”