Zwigato is a genuine take on the post-Covid recession shot entirely in Bhubaneswar, Odisha’s capital. It tells the story of a delivery boy, played by Kapil Sharma, struggling to provide for his family during the pandemic.
The film’s director, Nandita Das, hosted a film screening at the residence of Odisha’s chief minister, Naveen Patnaik. The film reportedly moved the CM, who believes Odisha’s native Nandita Das’ film is a good starting point for more filmmaking and tourism opportunities in the state. Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair responds to the tax exemption of Zwigato in Odisha, saying, “We are grateful to Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and the government of Odisha for this.” Zwigato is an important soulful story, and we wanted to share it with many people. It is a story written for our times.”
Zwigato also stars Shahana Goswami as a housewife who decides to support her husband’s (Sharma’s) income by working for the first time. This fiercely discussed movie analyses the lives of “ordinary people”.
The film had its world premiere in September 2022 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Applause Entertainment’s Sameer Nair and Nandita Das Initiatives produced the movie Zwigato.
