UMBARKHIND
Directed by ANUPAM MITRA
India · 2026 · 20 min · Historical Action / War Drama / Military Thriller
Submitted to RTV International Film Festival 2026Synopsis
ogline: In 1661, a 20,000-strong imperial Mughal vanguard enters the razor-thin basalt gorges of the Sahyadri mountains, unaware they are walking into the most claustrophobic, tactical guerrilla ambush in Indian military history. ● Short Synopsis (150 words): Cover Kartalab Khan’s imperial march from Shahjahanabad, Rai Bagan’s ignored tactical warnings, and the three young Maratha scouts (Tuka, Gauri, Bhiku) orchestrating natural snares, hornets, and night fires to collapse the army without an open-field clash.
About the film
Synopsis & Thematic Core ● Logline: In 1661, a 20,000-strong imperial Mughal vanguard enters the razor-thin basalt gorges of the Sahyadri mountains, unaware they are walking into the most claustrophobic, tactical guerrilla ambush in Indian military history. ● Short Synopsis (150 words): Cover Kartalab Khan’s imperial march from Shahjahanabad, Rai Bagan’s ignored tactical warnings, and the three young Maratha scouts (Tuka, Gauri, Bhiku) orchestrating natural snares, hornets, and night fires to collapse the army without an open-field clash. Director’s Statement & Visual Language ● Director's Vision (by Anupam Mitra): Focus on tactile historical realism combined with operatic chiaroscuro framing. Highlight the shift away from generic battlefield melee to the claustrophobic dread of the Sahyadri terrain itself acting as an active character. ● Art Direction: Reference the balance of deep shadow, textured fabrics (raw khadi vs. imperial velvet), authentic period weaponry, and traditional folk instrumentation (tutari, dhol-tasha, wardrums). Visual Stills & Character Lineup ● High-resolution frame grabs: (1) Kartalab Khan and Rai Bagan at the war table, (2) The scouts perched on the cliff edge overlooking the canyon, (3) Gauri unleashing the hornet swarm, (4) The flaming night bull ambush, (5) Kartalab Khan’s final collapse in the burning encampment.
Director(s)
Anupam Mitra is an independent filmmaker, multi-disciplinary designer, and cultural entrepreneur based in Kolkata. Born in Barrackpore, West Bengal, on June 4, 1978, Mitra’s artistic vision is deeply informed by the rich socio-cultural tapestry, historical layers, and artistic heritage of Bengal. His formal creative foundation is rooted in the fine arts, having completed his education from the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts, followed by a degree in Fashion Design from INIFD. Mitra spent a decade honing his aesthetic sensibilities as a Head Designer at Rupa & Co., alongside serving as a guest lecturer at various fashion technology institutes, bridging commercial craft with conceptual design. For the past sixteen years, Mitra has successfully channeled his entrepreneurial and creative spirit into the travel and heritage sector as the founder of Disha er Khoje ("Real People, Real India"), a Kolkata-based tour operator specializing in heritage circuits and offbeat cultural explorations. Expanding on this dedication to storytelling, he established its sister concern, Paye Paye Kolkata ("A Step, One Thousand Stories"), a creative production banner dedicated to preserving and reinterpreting Bengal's timeless narratives through modern cinematic mediums. With his critically textured AI-crafted cinematic works like HUTOM, Mitra seamlessly merges traditional Bengali folklore, 19th-century satirical literature, and avant-garde generative technology to create striking visual tapestries that resonate on global festival stages. CONTACT & PERSONAL DETAILS ● Full Name: Anupam Mitra ● Date of Birth: June 4, 1978 ● Place of Birth: Barrackpore, West Bengal, India ● Residential Address: 302 Asha Apartment, 2nd Floor, 26/31 N. N. Bagchi Road, Barrackpore, Kolkata - 700120 ● Business Address: 300 B. B. Ganguly Street, Kolkata - 700012 ● Phone: +91 93302 12524 ● Email: dishaerkhoje@gmail.com ● Production Banner: Paye Paye Kolkata (A Step, One Thousand Stories) ● Venture: Disha er Khoje (Real People, Real India
Trailer
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Film stills
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RTV International Film Festival — Inaugural Online Edition · 2026