Variety has dropped a trailer for Gitanjali Rao’s feature debut, “Bombay Rose.” The musical romance is slated to kick off the 2019 Venice Critics’ Week on August 28.
Set on the streets of Mumbai, the pic tells the story of Kamala and Salim’s quest for love using hand-painted animation. The footage introduces the two young immigrants dreaming of a better life and finding kindred spirits in one another. But their romance is not without its detractors.
“She’s Hindu. Stay away. She’s out of bounds. Find yourself a Muslim girl,” Salim is told. We also see a man threatening to “ruin” Kamala and “her entire family.”
“Bombay Rose” will premiere at the independently run Venice sidebar, which runs August 28-September 7.
“Among other prizes, all Venice Critics’ Week films will compete alongside titles in the official selection for the festival’s Lion of the Future award worth $100k,” Deadline details. “The winners of that prize are decided by the public rather than a jury.”
Following its world premiere at Venice Critics’ Week, “Bombay Rose” will screen at the Toronto International Film Festival, where its making its North American premiere on September 7.