Manoj Bajpayee's upcoming film, Jugnuma (The Fable), has locked its theatrical release date for September 12, 2025. Presented by Guneet Monga Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap, this magical realism drama is directed by Raam Reddy, known for his award-winning Kannada film Thithi.
Jugnuma has already garnered recognition at various film festivals, including a premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, winning Best Film at the Leeds International Film Festival, and receiving a Special Jury Prize at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
Set in the late 1980s in the Indian Himalayas, the film revolves around Dev (Manoj Bajpayee), who discovers mysteriously burnt trees on his fruit orchard estate. Despite his efforts, more fires break out, leading him to a journey of self-discovery for himself and his family.
The film features a talented ensemble cast including Deepak Dobriyal, Priyanka Bose, and Tillotama Shome. Varun Grover has penned the Hindi dialogues.
Anurag Kashyap, who has previously collaborated with Bajpayee in Gangs of Wasseypur, praised Bajpayee's performance in Jugnuma, calling it "unlike anything" audiences have seen before. He further added that the film is "deeply humane yet magical in the way it unfolds".
Guneet Monga Kapoor, known for her Academy Award-winning film The Elephant Whisperers, expressed her excitement about presenting Jugnuma to Indian audiences. She believes that the film "deserves to be experienced and celebrated in theatres". Monga Kapoor also lauded Raam Reddy as "one of the most exciting voices in Indian cinema today".
Raam Reddy described creating Jugnuma as a "deeply personal journey" drawing from memory, folklore, and history. He expressed his honor at having Kashyap and Monga Kapoor as presenters. Reddy also mentioned that the film was designed to be a "larger-than-life sensory experience" and he is eager to share it with a pan-India audience.
Ranjan Singh from Flip Films, the distributor for Jugnuma, said the film reflects "passion and honesty". He expressed confidence that the film will stay with the audience long after they have seen it.
Manoj Bajpayee, born on April 23, 1969, has had a long and successful career in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including four National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards. Bajpayee's early work included roles in Drohkaal (1994) and Bandit Queen (1994). His breakthrough came with his role as a gangster in Ram Gopal Varma's Satya (1998). More recently, Bajpayee starred in Joram, a thriller released in December 2023, and Despatch, a crime drama released on ZEE5 in December 2024.
