India’s indie studio Platoon One Films has acquired theatrical rights to festival darling “Second Chance,” the directorial debut from Subhadra Mahajan, setting a June 13 release in key Indian metro markets. A trailer has been unveiled.
The black-and-white drama, which world premiered in 2024 in competition at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and had its Asian bow at the 28th Busan International Film Festival, has since traveled to more than 25 festivals worldwide, including AFI Fest, Sao Paulo, and the International Film Festival of Kerala.
“Second Chance” follows 25-year-old Nia who retreats to her family’s summer home in the Himalayas after experiencing significant trauma, where she forms healing bonds with a 70-year-old mountain woman and her mischievous seven-year-old grandson. The film stars Dheera Johnson as Nia, alongside Thakri Devi (Bhemi) and Kanav Thakur (Sunny).
“‘Second Chance,’ like most first features, comes from a very deeply personal space and purpose,” said Mahajan, who previously co-wrote Pan Nalin‘s “Angry Indian Goddesses.” “Yet, at every step, from the early stages of its making to its world premiere at Karlovy Vary, it’s been embraced by people who’ve made it their own.”
Produced by Shyam Bora (whose credits include “Aamis”) and shot by cinematographer Swapnil S. Sonawane (“Monica O My Darling,” “Newton”), the film features Pan Nalin as executive producer alongside Sonawane. Naren Chandavarkar, Sidharth Meer, and Bhaskar Hazarika serve as co-producers.
Shiladitya Bora, founder of Platoon One Films, said: “It is very rare that you come across a film that completely disarms you, one that you admire deeply and immediately feel the need to lap it up and take it to the audience. ‘Second Chance’ by Subhadra Mahajan was exactly that.”
The distributor plans a “long-tail, staggered release strategy,” beginning in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, and Kochi, before expanding to additional markets – a model they previously employed for Anamika Haksar’s Sundance winner “Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Ja Riya Hoon,” which ran for 56 days in Indian cinemas.
“Second Chance” is produced by Latent Pictures and Metanormal Motion Pictures, with Bridge PostWorks and Moonweave Films as co-producers.
Watch the trailer here:
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