Filmmaker-producer Onir’s new queer romance film, We Are Faheem & Karun, will have its world premiere at the ongoing Dharamshala International Film Festival today, he announced on X, sharing a poster ahead of the screening.
“We’re thrilled that our labour of love We are Faheem & Karun” starts its journey into the world with the premiere at @DIFFindia today,” reads Onir’s post on the social media platform.
Onir noted a touching coincidence as the film, shot in the Himalayan town of Gurez in Kashmir, will premiere in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala. “It’s maybe poetic that a film shot in the Himalayan town of Gurez begins its journey into the world in another Himalayan town. Give us some love,” he added.
Backed by director-screenwriter Deepa Mehta, We Are Faheem & Karun stars Tawseef Mir as Faheem and Akash Menon as Karun. Media reports describe the film as an intimate queer love story exploring the journey of two men from different worlds as they navigate love, friendship and identity amid political tensions.
Onir has co-written the film with Fawzia Mirza. The film has been edited by Onir and Irene Dhar Malik. The music for Faheem & Karun has been scored by Pritam with Amitabh Bhattacharya serving as the lyricist.
Onir is known for films like My Brother... Nikhil (2005), I Am (2010), Shab (2017), Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz (2018) and Pine Cone (2022). His anthology film I Am, starring Nandita Das, Purab Kohli, Manav Kaul, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Radhika Apte, Anurag Kashyap and Rahul Bose, won the National Award in 2012 for best Hindi film and best lyrics.
The ongoing 13th edition of DIFF in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala will conclude on November 10.
