AR Rahman Fantasy, Saudi ‘Macbeth’

Bobby Bedi, one of India’s most successful film producers, unveiled a powerful multinational production slate ranging from dance documentary to soaring fantasy.

Speaking at a private event on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India, in Goa, Bedi introduced “Mudras,” the journey of a Spanish dancer who travels to India in the 1980s and finds her form and identity in a blend of Flamenco, Bharat Natyam and Kathakali. More than 20 years later, the woman’s daughter makes a similar journey but emerges with very different results.

Currently in post-production the feature documentary produced is by Bedi and Anna Saura through Bedi’s Contentflow Studios, with Bedi and Maria Salgado co-directing. Bedi described the film as “a story of two ladies, two countries two cultures and two generations, exploring dance, exploring themselves and discovering themselves.”

The company is in pre-production on “Bandit Queen MP,” a title that builds on one of Bedi’s biggest early career successes “Bandit Queen.” It involves a Phoolan Devi, a woman who emerges from a 12-year stretch in jail, against the odds succeeds in becoming a member of parliament, campaigns for greater women’s representation and is assassinated.

“Obviously, this is set at a time when the country was not ready for [women’s political representation], though since parliament has allocated seats for women,” Bedi said. “We hope this film will make sense to anyone who wants to break the glass ceilings that exist in many parts of life.”

Pitched simply as a “gender bender,” Bedi introduced “Lala & Poppy,” a pre-production feature about a transsexual man and a transsexual woman who become lovers. “Will this world allow two trans people to love and to live?” said Bedi.

Ambitious in a different way is “Nasruddin Hoja,” a project that was hatched by Bedi, Raami Malek and the multi-Oscar-winning musician A.R. Rahman. In…