'21st Tiffin' directed by Vijaygiri Bava, which has been screened at the 52nd International Film Festival of India, in the Indian Panorama Feature Film Section, was shown in the UNESCO-ICFT Gandhi Medal Competition on Monday, November 22, 2021.
This film is based on a story from a book called “Mahotu”, written by Raam Mori. The book has 14 stories about the life of middle-class women both in rural and metro cities. It talks about the complexity, sensitivity and problems of middle-class women.
The word “Mahotu” means the mopping cloth which is used for mopping the floors. The book had even won Sahitya Academy Yuva Award in 2016.
"The script of the film was written in just 30 days during the lockdown due to Covid-19," Raam Mori, the scriptwriter of the film, told Gomantak Times.
"The entire film was shot during lockdown following all norms of Covid-19 protocol. The entire shooting was done in just 8 days," asserted Mori.
Niilam, who was one of the protagonists in the film and won the National Award as Best Actress Special Mention for Gujrati film “Hillaro” in 2019, says it was a debut film for the director as well.
Right from childhood, I used to act in school competitions. We are 4 sisters and I am the youngest. I lost my father at the age of four and a half years. I never thought of becoming an actress.I was very good In my studies and did B.Com.. I used to act in one-act plays and did modelling for 10 years for survival. My first Hindi film was “Pyar Hame kis Mode Pe leAyaa”, which was never released. Then I started working in theatre and Gujarati serials," tell Niilam.
UNESCO-ICFT Gandhi Medal is given to those films that follow the principles of Mahatma Gandhi policy about truth and non-violence. This year, 10 films contesting in the competition. Among the 10 films, 3 films are Indian Films and 21st Tiffin is one of them.
