M Cream

M Cream
Directed by Agneya Singh
Produced by Agniputra Films
Written by Agneya Singh
Starring Imaad Shah
Ira Dubey
Tom Alter
Barry John
Auritra Ghosh
Distributed by All Rights Entertainment
Release dates
  • 10 August 2014 (2014-08-10) (Rhode Island Film Festival)
Running time
114 minutes
Country India
Language English/Hindi

M Cream is a 2014 Indian road movie written and directed by Agneya Singh. It follows the exploits of four rebellious friends who set out on a road trip in pursuit of a mythic drug. The film was screened at the Rhode Island International Film Festival where it received the Grand Prize for Best Feature Film.[1] M Cream has continued to travel to several international film festivals garnering both accolades and critical acclaim. The film has been noted for its realistic portrayal of India's new generation.[2]

Plot

Figs is the typical cynic one finds lurking in the expansive lawns of Delhi University. Entangled in a web of drugged out delirium, he’s the quintessential rebel. His world is thrown into disarray when his conservative parents begin to chalk out a strategy for his future. Things only become worse when a sudden scarcity of hash deprives Figs of his favourite pastime. Unable to cope with the situation, Figs joins forces with his best friend Maggie on a quest to attain M Cream, a mythical form of hash. They hastily devise a plan to trek to the far reaches of the Himalayas in pursuit of this goal. Maggie ropes in her boyfriend Niz, who’s purportedly headed to the hills on a photo assignment. Unbeknownst to Figs, the trio is joined by Jay, a close friend of Niz. Chaos ensues as the reckless travelers journey across the Himalayan expanse. The road trip results in a series of unexpected encounters that begin to unravel the myriad realities of rebellion. Difficult choices are made and uncomfortable sides are taken as Figs and the others begin to comprehend the mysterious ways of the world we live in.[3]

Cast

Production

Development

A still from M Cream
A still from M Cream

Singh is an alumnus of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Upon graduation, he returned to India and began conceptualizing the script for M Cream, his first feature film.[4] The inspiration for the story is rooted in contemporary youth rebellion. In conversation with Indo-Asian News Service, Singh commented:

After growing up in the superficial ‘90s, I was struck by the resurgence of radicalism among the youth of India. This film is really an ode to the spirit of revolution, inspired by the brave and reckless defiance of my own peers and contemporaries.[5]

M Cream was intended to signify a severing of ties with traditional Indian tropes of storytelling. In an interview with NPR Singh observed:

Bollywood entertains millions of people, but for me, personally, I couldn't really relate to the dreams and ideas in it. It's really based on escapism. And the fact of the matter is, we are living in turbulent times, and I think there's an audience in India, and internationally as well, that wants to see the more realistic aspects of what's happening in the country rather than the version of what we would like to believe.[6]

The story of M Cream focuses on a cross-section of characters that typify the aspirations of India’s new and disgruntled generation. The road journey serves to explore ideas and issues that relate to the larger interplay between the notions of conformity and rebellion.[7]

An acclaimed cast of theatre and film actors including Tom Alter, Ira Dubey, Imaad Shah, Auritra Ghosh and Barry John joined the project. The film was produced by Agniputra Films, a multi-media production house based in New Delhi, India. Hong Kong based sales agent All Rights Entertainment came on board to represent the project internationally.[8]

Filming

M Cream was Shot on location in New Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. Most notably the filming took place in and around the Kullu and Manali districts of Himachal Pradesh including popular backpacking locales such as Kasol and Malana, Himachal Pradesh.[9]

Soundtrack

The score for M Cream was composed by Studio Fuzz, consisting of Srijan Mahajan, Arsh Sharma and Nikhil Malik. It features Indian classical singer Shubha Mudgal, Brazilian pop star Lili Rocha and French folk-rock group Moriarty (band).[2]

Reception

M Cream at RIIFF
M Cream wins Best Feature at RIIFF

M Cream premiered at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2014 where it received the 'Best Feature Film' award.[1] The film has continued to travel to several international festivals garnering both awards and critical acclaim. Most notably, the film has been screened at Cork Film Festival,[10] WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival,[11] Internationales Filmfest Braunschweig,[12] Indie Spirit Film Festival,[13] FilmColumbia Festival,[14] London Indian Film Festival,[15] New York Indian Film Festival,[16] Chicago South Asian Film Festival,[17] Seattle South Asian Film Festival,[18] Arizona International Film Festival,[19] Oakland International Film Festival[20] and Boston International Film Festival.[21]

Laurence Kardish, curator emeritus MOMA commented:

A refreshing, vivid and occasionally delirious road trip of a film into Dharamsala, and beyond into the snowy mountains and canopied forests of Himachal Pradesh where four young and attractive millennials from New Delhi hope their treasure hunt for a fabled stimulant will end blissfully. Directed with verve and panache by NYU graduate Agneya Singh, M Cream, is not only a wildly promising debut feature film, but an eye-popping, propulsive and energetic hybrid of American independent and Bollywood filmmaking.[22]

Awards

Wins
Nominations
Accolades

Political and Social Issues

Focusing on a realistic appraisal of society and polity, M Cream touches upon several taboo subjects that are indicative of contemporary forms of rebellion. Most notably, the film has portrayed the widespread use of drugs among the youth. Speaking to India Today Singh commented:

Hash is hugely popular among the youth and on campuses. It's a counter-cultural movement sweeping our country where the youth is pushing the limits of society and rebelling against social, economic and political uncertainties.[29]

M Cream provides a socio-political commentary on modern India with an emphasis on understanding the role of rebellion in the ongoing struggle to affect change. In an interview with Indo-Asian News Service, Singh further stated:

I think that we need to bring cinema back into the socio-political sphere and wield it once again as a weapon of the revolution. M Cream is our very own protest against the rising tide of conformity.[30]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "M Cream named Best Film at Rhode Island International Film Festival". http://dearcinema.com/. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27. External link in |website= (help)
  2. 1 2 "In search of sex, drugs and rebellion, M Cream wins accolades abroad". Bollywood hungama. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Official Website". mcreamfilm.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  4. "INSIDE THE DIRECTOR OF M CREAM – AGNEYA SINGH". oiff.org. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  5. "Agneya Singh's refreshing take on the revolutionary role of cinema". thenewsreports.com. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  6. "The Indian Film Scene Diversifies, Even As Bollywood Dominates". npr.org. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  7. "M Cream: A Breathtaking Cocktail of Hash and Rebellion". pepsimtvindies.com. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  8. "M Cream - The Film Catalogue / Film Details". thefilmcatalogue.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  9. "M Cream: youthful experiments". livemint.com. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  10. "M Cream". corkfilmfest.org. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  11. "Agneya Singh brings M CREAM to WordFest Houston 2015". hummagazine.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  12. "M Cream - EUROPA PREMIERE". filmfest-braunschweig.de. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  13. 1 2 "7th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival Awards". indiespiritfilmfestival.org. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  14. "FilmColumbia Celebrates 15th Anniversary with Screenings, Panels, Expansion to Hudson". rogovoyreport.com. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  15. "2015 PROGRAMME". londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  16. "2015 New York Indian Film Festival May 4-9th". crossingstv.com. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  17. "Chicago South Asian Film Festival". festivalfocus.org. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  18. "M Cream". tasveer.org. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  19. "M Cream". filmfestivalarizona.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  20. "13th Annual Oakland International Film Festival April 2–5". sfbayview.com. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  21. "2015 FILM ARCHIVE". bostoniff.org. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  22. "Film Columbia 2014 Flyer" (PDF). filmcolumbia.org. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  23. "M Cream Wins top Award at Houston Worldfest...". thecitizen.in. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  24. "Majid Majidi and Dilip Kumar get Lifetime Achievement Awards at Jaipur festival". indiantelevision.com. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  25. "New Jersey Film Festivalsm Spring 2016". njfilmfest.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  26. "Madrid International Film Festival Awards Nominations". madridinternationalfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  27. "10 Indie Movies of 2014 You Should Definitely Not Miss". pepsimtvindies.com. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  28. "Must-see movies at S.A. Film Festival". mysanantonio.com. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  29. "Hooked to Hash". intoday.in. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  30. "Cinema must be a weapon of revolution: Filmmaker Agneya Singh". business-standard.com. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-27.

External links

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