The 13th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF), the world’s largest traveling film festival — is all set to conclude with a grand finale in Mumbai from November 13–16, 2025, at Cinépolis, Fun Republic Mall, Andheri West. As Indian cinema continues to rediscover its roots and redefine its creative identity, JFF played host to an engaging session with the talented team behind Minimum – Geetanjali Kulkarni, Rumana Molla, and Namit Das who came together to discuss their film and the evolving landscape of storytelling in Indian cinema.
The session unfolded into a deep and insightful conversation about writing, performance, and collaboration, echoing the film’s own layered themes of identity and belonging.
Speaking passionately about the growing recognition of writers in the film industry, Namit Das emphasized how storytelling forms the foundation of cinema, “I think that is definitely changing , The director and writer have been spoken about which wasn’t I mean it used to be like Salim Javed used be spoken about so much they were the stars .So I think at least the conversation has started and I’m very hopeful that things will change specially for writers I’m a big advocate for writers because I think that why the gems come from, “There is no Writers there is no Film” infact I feel like direction haven’t after writing for me I didn’t even think about directing before I started writing and the only reason I decided to direct is because I started to see the film in my head after I started writing.so I think that why all start and it’s high time we recognise that.”
Echoing this spirit of collaboration and artistic trust, Rumana Molla, who also plays a central role in Minimum, shared how the script’s emotional depth drew her to the project, “When I first read the script, the humane aspects of it really moved me. The challenge of switching between French and Hindi was exciting, and as a process-oriented actor, I thoroughly enjoyed our rehearsals. Rumana and I spent a lot of time breaking down each scene and perfecting the language. Those sessions were incredibly rewarding and made the shoot much smoother, especially since we were filming abroad with limited time. Every detail was so well thought out; the characters felt real because they came from lived experiences. We had an amazing crew, a beautiful location, and a lot of fun. Those ten to twelve days were hectic but deeply fulfilling because of the preparation and creative collaboration.”
Veteran actor Geetanjali Kulkarni reflected on her own approach to performance, comparing it to the effortless grace of sports legends, “I’ve always been inspired by sports legends like Sachin Tendulkar the way his straight drive looks effortless despite the hard work behind it. That’s what I strive for in my performances, the ease that comes only after preparation. For Minimum, it was all Rumana. She didn’t just write and direct the film; she did everything from breaking down every scene to even coaching us in French. My accent was very desi, but she patiently guided me through every nuance. She’s truly remarkable; she even knows six languages, including sign language!”
As the Jagran Film Festival continues to serve as a vibrant platform for cinema that challenges, questions, and celebrates, the conversation around Minimum stood out for its authenticity, a reminder that at the heart of every powerful story lies great writing, preparation, and the courage to tell it with truth.
