Beyond the Veil by Anusha Nandakumar

Sughra Fatima is a teenager from a large Muslim family in Khidderpore, Kolkata. What sets her apart is that she fought with her family to take up boxing as a sport and excelled at it. Her mother, Rukhsana Begum, led her life like any other of that area. She got married, had children and was satisfied with her life till her husband’s illness proved to be a major setback. In order to support her family, she took to singing popular Hindi songs in bars and marriages, secretly. The Film is the story of two strong women.

New Delhi, India

Anusha Nandakumar graduated in Direction and Screenplay Writing from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. She received the French Embassy Scholarship and was selected for a filmmaking programme in Paris. The Boxing Ladies, made as part of her curriculum, has been screened at various film festivals around the world and won the National Award.

  • Cinematographer: Rahul Balachandra
  • Sound Recordist: Binil C Ambakkadu
  • Editor: Prathyush Kumar Mecheril
  • Project Partner: Films Division

Festival, screening and distribution queries: distribution@psbt.org