Nidhi Saxena's film, 'Secret Of A Mountain Serpent,' has garnered a warm reception following its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The film, set against the backdrop of a remote Himalayan town during the Kargil War, explores themes of desire, longing, and the unspoken lives of women.

'Secret Of A Mountain Serpent' tells the story of Barkha, a schoolteacher whose husband is away at the border. With most of the village men gone, Barkha finds herself drawn to Manik Guho, a mysterious outsider who disrupts the fragile balance of the community. As Manik's presence awakens long-buried yearnings in Barkha and other women, a local folklore about a serpent waiting for its lost love comes to life. The film delves into the complexities of duty versus desire, belonging, and the search for self.

Saxena, who also wrote the film, describes it as a story about women who choose to risk everything to follow their desires, shedding the burden of societal expectations. She emphasizes the importance of women telling their own stories with their own voices. According to Saxena, the film explores the desires that women carry silently, desires that may not lead to escape but pulse beneath the skin. She uses nature, folklore, and emotion to create a world where desire itself becomes a mythic force.

The film stars Trimala Adhikari as Barkha and Adil Hussain as Manik Guho. The cast also includes Pushpendra Singh and Richa Meena. Hussain's performance as the enigmatic Manik Guho has been particularly praised, with Saxena noting that he fills the silences of the film with something unspoken and sacred.

'Secret Of A Mountain Serpent' is co-produced with Vimukthi Jayasundara, winner of the Cannes Camera d'Or. Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have also joined as producers through their banner Pushing Buttons Studios. Chadha and Fazal stated that they were immediately drawn to Saxena's lyrical vision and her focus on authentic, emotionally driven storytelling.

Nidhi Saxena's previous film, 'Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman,' premiered at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival. With 'Secret Of A Mountain Serpent', Saxena becomes the first Indian woman to receive the Biennale College Fund grant. The film was one of only four films selected out of hundreds of global entries to receive a production grant.

The 82nd Venice International Film Festival, which runs from August 27 to September 6, 2025, has awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to Werner Herzog. Alexander Payne served as Jury President for the main competition. The festival opened with Paolo Sorrentino's 'La grazia'.