“IFFI is where you celebrate cinema and watch films from around the world”: Director Agni
“We create horror to help us cope with real life, and Rudhirvana stays true to that”: Actress Paavana
24 November 2025: The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) offered cine enthusiasts an exciting glimpse into the upcoming Kannada horror film Rudhirvana. Director Shri Agni and lead actress Ms Paavana Gowda addressed a press conference at the festival today.
Director Agni shared that Rudhirvana marks his debut as a filmmaker, although he has previously worked in various capacities across multiple film projects. Reflecting on the experience of directing a horror film, he said the genre demands a different mindset. Shooting in forests, isolated areas, and other challenging locations requires strong mental focus and resilience, he noted.
Answering to a question on commercial viability of his horror film, he said that the horror genre remains manageable even with limited resources. “Nearly 40% of the film was shot indoors, which allowed us to control lighting and take multiple shots as needed. With a small crew and favourable conditions, horror becomes a practical and commercially viable genre,” he explained.
Expressing his excitement about being at IFFI, he said, “I always wanted to be here. I had even planned to attend as a delegate one day, and today I am addressing the press for my debut directorial film Rudhirvana. Deep inside, I am trembling with excitement.” He described IFFI as a space that celebrates cinema without boundaries. “Here, you watch films from around the world; commercial, art-house, or documentary; without any distinction. IFFI showcases films that are not easily accessible anywhere else, not even online. Cinema truly keeps me hooked,” he added.
Sharing her perspective, actress Paavana Gowda said, “As the famous saying goes, we create horror so that we can cope with real life, and Rudhirvana stays true to that idea.” She noted that acting in a horror film is quite different from working in other genres. “Horror is physically and mentally demanding, but the commitment to the project and the willingness to explore something new is what drives an actor,” she said.
SYNOPSIS: A team of election officials travelling to an isolated village inside a forest gets stuck amidst an ongoing conflict between a resort construction company and the local indigenous tribals called the dadaasi tribe. In a case of pure misunderstanding the team is attacked by the tribes. Trying to escape from them they find shelter inside a creepy deteriorating tree house. As the night progresses they start to realize that the threat posed by the tribals outside is nothing compared to what is dwelling inside. With death looming both outside and inside, will they survive?. Human horrors of deforestation explored through the lens of a demon.
