Mumbai: In a rare honour to Indian independent movies, 'Manasarovar', a 90-minute feature film in English, would be screened across 35 theatres in England, starting January 2005.

"This is a giant leap for Indian independent cinema and proves that these movies are able to attract overseas buyers," writer-director of the film Anup Kurian told in Mumbai on Sunday (Nov 21, 2004). Independent films are made without institutional funding, Government subsidies or help from established production houses or financiers, and focuses on art value rather than on commercial value of the film.

London-based 'Bollywood Films' has bought the UK territory rights for the film, expected to be released during January first week, much ahead of its release in India late January or early February, he said. 'Manasarovar' has been selected as the opening film of the Indian panorama for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which opens in Goa.

Starring Atul Kulkarni, Neha Dubey and Zafar Karachiwala, it is about coincidences that hurt people. "The film is a love story that ends before it begins," Kurian said.

"Ravi Roy (Atul Kulkarni) meets Malathy Chandran (Neha Dubey of 'Monsoon Wedding' fame) in Pune on a short visit and falls in love with her. She, however, rejects his eccentric advances," he said.

A few years later, Ravi's brother George (Zafar Karachiwala) happens to meet Malathy. She learns from him that Ravi had disappeared and her past comes back through the letters they wrote to each other. She realises her predicament as "one of no choices", Kurian said.

The film ends with Malathy reaching Manasarovar -- a lake in Himalayas, he added.

The theme song of the film, 'Falling Through The Clouds', is composed and rendered by Irish group 'Random'. This is the first time that an Indian feature film has used Irish musicians and music, claims Kurian.

'Manasarovar' is also the first feature film for most of its crew, many of them batch-mates from Film and TV Institute of India (FTII), Pune. They include writer-director Anup Kurian, cinematographer Viswamangal Kitsu, editor Unni Vijayan and art director Mathewkutty J Mattam.