Pritish Nandy Communications’ cult political thriller, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is the only Indian entry at the 58th Edinburgh International Film Festival this year. The film, directed by Sudhir Mishra, was screened at the festival on August 20, 21 and 27.

Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi has created a stir in the International Festival circuit, having received critical acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles earlier this year.

Set against the backdrop of immense political turmoil in India, it is a story of three friends whose lives interwine across a decade. It is a love story against a politically decaying India from the late sixties to the late seventies, often described as the Indira Gandhi years. Kay Kay Menon, debutantes Chitrangda Singh and Shiney Ahuja play the lead roles.

Critics and listeners alike have hugely appreciated the music of the film that was scored by Shantanu Moitra and released by Virgin Records.The album received four-star reviews in the media.

The film captures the spirit of the turbulent seventies. Based in the Emergency years, this movie has been hailed by Shekhar Kapoor as ‘the most significant and real film that I have seen recently and without doubt, the most important film to come out of India in a long, long time’. Ashutosh Gowarikar heralds the film as ‘Indian Cinema’s first great political epic’. Venessa Redgrave described it as ‘a masterpiece’ at the Los Angeles Festival.
 
Ever since its inception the focus of the Edinburgh International Film Festival has been on new cinema and talent.It attracts over 1000 delegates from Europe, UK and North America.