Anoop Lokkur's debut Kannada feature film, "Don't Tell Mother," is set to have its world premiere at the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which will be held from September 17 to 26, 2025. The announcement was made on Saturday by the film's makers.
The film will be showcased in the "Windows to Asian Cinema" section, a segment that highlights new films from both established and emerging filmmakers in the global film industry.
"Don't Tell Mother" is an Indo-Australian production set in Bangalore in the 1990s. It is described as a tender and emotionally resonant portrait of childhood and family. The film stars Siddharth Swaroop, Aishwarya Dinesh, Anirudh P Keserker, and Karthik Nagarajan.
The story revolves around a young boy who faces corporal punishment at school, his mother's struggles against a patriarchal society, and a family that is forced to confront long-suppressed truths after a tragedy.
Anoop Lokkur, who not only directed but also wrote and produced the film, has stated that the project is deeply rooted in his personal childhood memories. He expressed that writing the film helped him to understand his mother's struggles in a way he never had before and that having the world premiere at Busan feels "almost unreal".
The film was shot by Mathew Jenkins and edited by Pavan Bhat. It is produced by Lokkur, Jenkins, and Mikalya Henke under Papunu Films and East Reel Films, with Nishil Sheth and Karan Kadam serving as co-producers.
Anoop Lokkur is a Melbourne-based filmmaker who originally hails from Bangalore, India. He moved to Australia in early 2007 to pursue a Master's degree in International Business. After working for over seven years as a project manager, he transitioned to filmmaking.
It’s worth noting that another film with a similar title, "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," exists. The 1991 American coming-of-age black comedy, directed by Stephen Herek, stars Christina Applegate. The plot centers on a 17-year-old girl who takes on the responsibility of caring for her siblings after their babysitter dies unexpectedly. A remake of this film was released in April 2024.
