After Berlinale Premiere, Manoj Bajpayee’s Jugnuma (The Fable) Set to Shine on Global Stage

Manoj Bajpayee’s Jugnuma (The Fable) to Release in India on September 12

After captivating audiences at its world premiere during the 74th Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, Manoj Bajpayee’s Jugnuma (The Fable) is set for a theatrical release across India on September 12, the makers announced on Monday.

Production banner Flip Films unveiled the news on Instagram, sharing a poster of the film featuring Bajpayee alongside co-stars Priyanka Bose, Hiral Sidhu, and Awan Koot, with the caption:
“The flicker of fireflies and a #Fable as old as time. Presenting #JUGNUMA, soaring into cinemas September 12.”

Directed by Raam Reddy, the film follows the journey of Dev (played by Bajpayee), who returns to his Himalayan roots and finds himself battling to protect the forests he grew up in. The narrative blends ecological urgency with a deeply personal tale, as Dev faces the devastating impact of rampant forest fires.

The cast also includes Tilottama Shome and Deepak Dobriyal in pivotal roles.

Backed by executive producers Guneet Monga and Anurag Kashyap, Jugnuma has already drawn praise for its powerful storytelling and performances. Kashyap, who earlier collaborated with Bajpayee on Gangs of Wasseypur, lauded the actor’s work ahead of the Berlinale premiere:

“The film is deeply humane yet magical in the way it unfolds. And at the centre of it, Manoj Bajpayee delivers a performance unlike anything we’ve seen before — restrained, enigmatic, and profoundly moving.”

Monga, an Academy Award-winning producer, described the film as a profound experience:

“When I first saw Jugnuma, it felt like a mirror. It unsettled me, comforted me, and reminded me of cinema’s deepest purpose.”

Notably, Jugnuma (The Fable) was the only Indian film selected at Berlinale 2024, where it garnered critical appreciation for its poetic treatment of environmental themes. The official trailer highlights Dev’s bond with his family against the breathtaking Himalayan landscape, with Bajpayee’s character narrating stories to his children as the serenity of the hills is threatened by flames.

With its India release now confirmed, the film is poised to bring its unique blend of mythology, nature, and human resilience to wider audiences.