In a world increasingly defined by digital surveillance and mechanical coldness, filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara has presented a cinematic antidote with his latest feature, Spying Stars. Featured in the World Competition section at the 24th Pune International Film Festival, the film serves as a lyrical meditation on the fluid boundaries between nature and the human mind.
Set in a dystopian future plagued by a pandemic triggered by a world ruled by machines. The story follows Anandi, played by Indira Tiwari, a bioengineer returning from space to perform her father’s last rites on the remote Hanuman Island.
Upon arrival, Anandi is forced into a bureaucratic quarantine at a secluded mountain resort. As her isolation deepens, a mysterious, glowing "star" begins to survey her every move, compelling her to flee her confinement. Her journey leads her into the heart of the forest, where she finds sanctuary with a compassionate mother and her transgender daughter, initiating a spiritual process of healing and liberation.
Director Vimukthi Jayasundara, who's also known for his Cannes-winning debut The Forsaken Land, describes the film as a narrative of liberation.
Spying Stars explores nature as a reflection of a human mind. The ‘star’ is a metaphorical observer, while the transgender character represents a fluid, liberated consciousness beyond control and binaries
Vimukthi Jayasundara
Indian actor Indira Tiwari delivers a powerhouse performance defined by its lack of dialogue. For the first 45 minutes of the film, Tiwari’s character remains largely silent, relying on presence and restraint to communicate deep-seated grief and alienation.
Speaking at the festival, Tiwari reflected on the role's introspective nature:
The film demanded silence, restraint, and emotional honesty rather than performance. It challenged me to listen to nature, to people, and to what remains unspoken, making the role both demanding and profoundly transformative
Indira Tiwari
