Creating Hellaro has been a deeply personal experience for me and the entire team
Mumbai: The highly acclaimed Gujarati movie Hellaro, directed by Abhishek Shah, is set to stream exclusively on the popular OTT platform, ShemarooMe, starting 2nd October 2024, just in time for Navratri. This groundbreaking movie made history as the first Gujarati film to win the National Award for Best Feature Film, captivating audiences with its powerful narrative of resilience, empowerment, and transformation among women in a repressive society.
Since its debut, Hellaro has generated significant buzz, screening at multiple prestigious film festivals and earning accolades worldwide. In addition to the prestigious National Film Awards, it also garnered a Special Jury Award for its 13 leading women, highlighting the outstanding ensemble performance. Notably, it received a Special Mention from the Jury at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), recognized for its incredible music, vibrant colors, and exceptional choreography.
The film features a stellar ensemble cast, including Shraddha Dangar, Kaushambi Bhatt, Niilam Paanchal, Brinda Trivedi, Jayesh More, among others. It tells the inspiring story of a group of suppressed women from a village in Kutch, whose lives dramatically change upon encountering a stranger in the desert with a dhol. This unexpected event sparks their quest for freedom and self-discovery, challenging societal norms and expectations in an orthodox patriarchal culture.
Director Abhishek Shah reflects on this remarkable journey: “Creating Hellaro has been a deeply personal experience for me and the entire team. We have seen how the film resonates with audiences, shedding light on the struggles women face in our society. Winning Best Film National Award for the first time for a Gujarati language is an incredible honor, but I truly hope ‘Hellaro’ inspires meaningful conversations about empowerment and resilience. It wasn’t easy to bring this story to life; we built an entire village in a barren landscape, complete with fifteen traditional bhungas, a chowk, and a temple—something you can still see on Google Maps!”
Shraddha Dangar expressed her excitement about the film coming on ShemarooMe: “Hellaro is a very special movie for me. As it streams on ShemarooMe, we’re thrilled for fans in India and around the world to experience the powerful performances and vibrant storytelling that make our film so special. The movie beautifully used Garba to represent women’s journey from suppression to liberty in a patriarchal society. We practiced Garba barefoot in the scorching sands of Kutch, but the love we received from the audience made it all worthwhile. Since Hellaro, I’ve encountered many inspiring stories that have motivated me to take a stand. Playing Manjhri transformed me; it awakened a strength within that encouraged me to draw courage from the incredible women around me. I feel empowered to advocate for change and share their stories, and I hope our film inspires others to do the same.”
Join the courageous women as they break free from societal constraints and redefine their destinies. Watch ‘Hellaro’ on ShemarooMe from 2nd October 2024.