Ahead of its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, the team behind “Bayaan” is revealing how real-world events inspired the Indian police procedural and their ambitious plans to build a global platform for independent Indian cinema.
Director Bikas Ranjan Mishra tells Variety that the film, which premieres in Toronto’s Discovery section, was sparked by his coverage of a notorious cult leader’s trial. “I was following the trial of a notorious cult leader when his conviction triggered violent protests from his followers,” Mishra explains. “What unsettled me most was the sight of women defending a convicted rapist – it felt incomprehensible.”
The filmmaker, whose debut “Chauranga” won international festival acclaim, says the experience led him to examine the broader systems that enable such figures. “Looking deeper, I realized this wasn’t about one man but about a system. Growing up in India, I saw how faith and power often worked hand in hand, and how ordinary people bore the brunt of that collusion.
Set in a small town in Rajasthan, northern India, “Bayaan,” which literally means testimony, follows Roohi (Huma Qureshi), a young detective from Delhi who investigates allegations against a revered cult leader after an anonymous accusation of sexual abuse. The film explores how institutional power and community silence can shield perpetrators.
For Qureshi, who also serves as executive producer, playing Roohi required a complete rethinking of her acting approach. “The most challenging aspect of essaying Roohi was that she isn’t loud or performative; everything she does is channelized internally and has got a lot to do with her mind,” the actor reveals. “I had to unlearn and re-learn a lot of my instincts and make sure to perform with restraint.”
Qureshi describes Roohi as far more complex than a typical rookie cop character. “She is vulnerable yet fierce, deeply committed to seeking the truth and tackling anything that comes her way. Her being a woman and trying to make sense of the systemic patriarchy around her makes this world even more delicious for an actor.”
The dual role of actor and executive producer gave Qureshi deeper insight into the filmmaking process. “My approach is always to be disruptively distinct and back authentic storytelling. I have not done an indie film in a while and perhaps if I looked at it purely as an actor then maybe this film might not have been made.”
Producer Shiladitya Bora of Platoon One Films says “Bayaan” signals his company’s evolution. “‘Bayaan’ is the most ambitious project we’ve worked on so far. It represents a major step up for Platoon One Films and proves that we’re moving onwards and upwards,” Bora says.
The producer, whose credits include India’s 2018 Oscar entry “Newton” and 2023 Berlinale selection “Ghaath,” has bold aspirations for his production banner. “It is my vision to build India’s answer to international studios like A24 or Neon,” he states. “I want to nurture and protect original voices, like Bikas,’ and to diversify and strengthen our brand.”
Bora first heard Mishra’s script years ago but initially felt it was too ambitious. The project gained momentum after receiving support from Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund and Film Independent’s LA Residency program. “When Bikas came back to me in 2022, I knew that not only could we make ‘Bayaan,’ but it had to be us. This is why I had built Platoon One films in the first place, to believe in and empower fresh, daring stories at a time when other producers won’t.”
Mishra approached the material as both police procedural and social drama, drawing on his journalism background. “I never thought of it as balancing two genres. For me, the case, the investigation, and the social world were inseparable,” he explains. “My years as a journalist taught me to look closely, ask uncomfortable questions, and resist easy answers.”
The director was careful to avoid creating caricatures of religious figures. “I wasn’t interested in lampooning godmen or creating easy villains. My challenge was to show the ecosystem that sustains them without reducing them to caricatures,” Mishra says. “‘Bayaan’ asks the uncomfortable question: when does silence become complicity?”
Following the Toronto premiere, the team plans an extensive international festival run and theatrical releases across multiple countries. Qureshi underscores the film’s universal themes. “For me, ‘Bayaan’ is not just the story of a female detective but also about finding your inner voice in a world that tries to silence you. This film is beyond borders and all about the human condition.”
Bora sees the international festival circuit as crucial for the film’s success. “‘Bayaan’ is both deeply rooted in its setting and globally relevant. It is a story about women reclaiming their agency in today’s world, and these are the kind of stories that resonate across borders.”
“Bayaan” is the only Indian film selected for Toronto’s Discovery section this year. The cast also includes Chandrachur Singh, Sachin Khedekar, Paritosh Sand, Avijit Dutt, Vibhore Mayank, Sampa Mandal, Swati Das, Aditi Kanchan Singh and Perry Chhabra. The film is a co-production between Platoon One Films and Summit Studios.
