‘Naale Rajaa’ To Premiere At NYIFF
India-West News Desk
NEW YORK, NY – Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa (Sunday Special), a heartwarming Kannada-language film by Abhilash Shetty, will premiere at the 25th New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF. The film has also been nominated for the Best Screenplay Award at this year’s festival.
Written, directed, and produced by Shetty, the 91-minute film celebrates the nostalgia of Sunday chicken feasts in a coastal Karnataka town. Set against the backdrop of Gandhi Jayanti—when meat sales are banned in India—the story follows 11-year-old Sneha, who embarks on a quirky adventure in search of her favorite chicken curry, challenging societal norms along the way.
Samrudhi Kundapura, known for her work in Drama Juniors and Yakshagana, stars as Sneha. She’s joined by Sanidhya Acharya, another talented young performer, and seasoned actors Prabhakar Kunder (Kantara) and Radha Ramachandra (Dweepa). Cinematography is by Swaroop Yashwanth, with sound design by Vithor Moraes and music by M.R. Prahast.
The film has already traveled to several international festivals, including the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Asian Pop-Up Cinema (USA), and the Bucharest Best Comedy Film Festival. It also appears on IMDb India’s list of Most Anticipated Indian Movies of 2025.
Critics have praised the film’s humor, emotional depth, and rooted storytelling. Vague Visages called it “well-plotted,” while Asian Movie Pulse described it as a “charming and likeable tale.”
With Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa, Shetty once again brings regional culture to a global stage through food, family, and heartfelt storytelling.
