Directed by International Emmy‑winning filmmaker Richie Mehta – whose recent credits include the acclaimed series “Delhi Crime” and “Poacher” – the film offers a dramatized look at a pivotal 48‑hour siege in the life of Phoolan Devi, the notorious dacoit‑turned‑politician.
Rather than a conventional biopic, “Phoolan” zeroes in on the tense days that shaped Devi’s transformation from an impoverished teenager into a symbol of resistance, drawing its narrative from her own memoir, “I, Phoolan: The Autobiography of India’s Bandit Queen.”
The title role is performed by newcomer Sneha Kumari, who makes her screen debut portraying the complex figure of Phoolan Devi.
Amazon Prime Video will stream the film globally after its festival run, a distribution plan confirmed by Shilangi Mukherji, Director and Head of Amazon Prime Video’s SVOD business in India, who joined the film’s creators for a conversation with TIFF senior programme advisor Meenakshi Shedde.
Phoolan Devi’s legacy continues to spark debate in India and abroad; the film’s high‑profile debut at TIFF and subsequent streaming release are expected to bring renewed attention to her controversial life and the broader issues of gender, caste and justice that her story embodies.