A new Indo-American production banner is stepping onto the global stage with a powerful statement of intent.
Sita22 Films, founded by global corporate leader-turned-producer Anindita (Ann) Mukherjee, makes its debut with Chheledhora, a Bengali-language family thriller that begins principal photography March 1 in the breathtaking, rarely filmed landscapes of Itanagar and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh.
Co-produced with India’s Handyyman, Chheledhora marks a significant Indo-American collaboration and signals Sita22 Films’ mission: to champion socially conscious, emotionally layered stories that center women, children and voices too often overlooked in mainstream cinema.
“Throughout my four decades as a corporate executive at global companies including PepsiCo, S.C. Johnson and Pernod Ricard, I’ve seen how creativity is the oxygen to growth,” said Mukherjee. “Chheledhora drew me in because it places women and children at its emotional core — portraying both their vulnerability and resilience. Funding and co-producing this film reflects the kind of socially-conscious, emotionally-layered stories I want my new production company to champion, in order to provide a much-needed platform for those who are innocent and voiceless.”
Written and directed by Shieladitya Moulik — known for his runaway Bangla hit Sweater and recent theatrical success Surjo — Chheledhora centers on Brishti, a divorced, deeply flawed and misunderstood woman portrayed by acclaimed actor Swastika Mukherjee. When Brishti impulsively “steals” her daughter for a birthday celebration, she soon discovers the child has been abducted for real. A startling discovery triggers a volatile exchange that evolves into a life-altering journey.
Blending emotional family drama with thriller elements and dark humor, the film positions itself as a rare Bengali-language road movie anchored by a morally complex female protagonist. Upon completion, it is
expected to travel the international film festival circuit.
“Chheledhora is a story about broken parents discovering the courage and selflessness they didn’t know they possessed,” said Moulik. “It may unfold like a road journey with unexpected twists and turns, but at its heart, it’s about healing — about how children often become the moral compass for adults.”
Swastika Mukherjee brings to the role a career defined by strikingly varied character portrayals, from Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! directed by Dibakar Banerjee for Yash Raj Films, to Janala
by Buddhadeb Dasgupta. In recent years, she has delivered acclaimed performances in Qala and the breakout series Paatal Lok, and most recently stepped into the role of a gangster in Kaali Potka for ZEE5.
“Brishti is not an easy woman to like, and that’s what moved me,” said Swastika Mukherjee. “She is impulsive, wounded and deeply flawed, but her love for her daughter is instinctive and fierce. At its heart, this is a tender story about motherhood, forgiveness and finding strength in the most fragile moments.”
For Sita22 Films, the launch is deeply personal and purpose-driven. Anindita (Ann) Mukherjee, who built her career across global corporations before pivoting to film production, envisions the banner as a bridge between India and the diaspora — supporting regional-language cinema with universal emotional resonance.
Handyyman’s Protiqe Mojoomdar added, “When I read Chheledhora, I had an urgent instinct to come on board because the script had emotional depth and commercial energy. With Swastika attached early, we knew we had a winner.” Handyyman previously produced the web show Hawa Badle Hassu and executive produced Interdependence, an award-winning Indo-Italian-Swiss co-production.
For Chheledhora, Jitin Hingorani (Call Me Dancer, Zende) serves as Creative Producer and Film Festivals Strategist. Italian cinematographer Vincenzo Condorelli (Cobalt Blue, Songs of Paradise) is lensing the film, capturing the sweeping landscapes of Ziro Valley while preserving the intimacy of the character-driven narrative. Priyangi Borthakur (The Family Man) is the Supervising Producer, while Dhanraj Sawant is the Executive Producer (Bardo) on the project. Suven Kumar Das (Chitrangada) is line producing, with Somanwita Bhattacharya (The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case) handling all production design and Ajopa Mukherjee (Fish, Sweets, & More) designing costumes.
Production is expected to continue through the end of March, with additional casting to be announced soon.
