Production has wrapped on the wartime coming-of-age feature film “The Collaborator,” based on the international bestseller by Kashmiri novelist Mirza Waheed.
The story is set in the 1990s on the Indian side of the Line of Control that separates Indian Kashmir from Pakistani Kashmir. The 17-year old protagonist known only as the “Boy” is forced by an Indian army captain to go into the valley that separates the two countries to count the army’s kills by collecting IDs off the dead. Most of these are teenage boys who have disappeared from his small village, and any one could be among his missing friends.
The novel was named as one of the 2011 books of the year in The Telegraph U.K., New Statesman, Business Standard and Telegraph India. It was also a 2011 Guardian first book award finalist.
The U.K.’s Rudi Dharmalingam (“The Lazarus Project,” “Wakefield”) stars in the role of Captain Kadian alongside newcomer Nikhil Singh Rai, who won the role of the Boy after a two-year search. The cast also includes Nitin Ganatra (“EastEnders”), Vikram Kapadia (“The Night Manager”) and Meera Ganatra (“Blinded by the Light”).
“A New Christmas” producer Travis Hodgkins makes his feature directorial debut with “The Collaborator” and also adapted Waheed’s novel for the screen.
The film is produced by Mulberry Films (U.S.) and Metro Productions (Georgia). It is executive produced by MxW Ventures and CnR Films. London-based Locomotive Entertainment is handling international sales. Below the line talent includes Swedish cinematographer Johan Holmqvist (“Springfloden”), editor Jamie Kirkpatrick (“Old Henry”) and composer Wayne Sharpe (“Basmati Blues”).
The film marks the second feature film collaboration this year between producers Rashaana Shah (“Blowing Up Right Now,” IFC’s “Bollywood Hero”) and Cristy Coors Beasley (“The Westsiders”), after sports drama “American Underdog,” which stars Danny Trejo, Veronica Falcon, Taylor Treadwell and Omi Vaidya.
Dharmalingam is represented by Curtis Brown and Link Entertainment, Rai by The Foundry, Nitan Ganatra by Conway Van Gelder Grant, Kapadia by S+C Management and Meera Ganatra by Core Mgmt.