DIFF: ‘Full Plate’ receives standing ovation at India Premiere

Thanks to the weekend, day three of the onging Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) was marked by packed screenings, standing ovations, and powerful conversations — from Adil Hussain’s masterclass on acting to the India premiere of Tannishtha Chatterjee’s ‘Full Plate’, starring Kirti Kulhari.

The day began with a deeply personal session titled ‘Truth and Acting’, where actor Adil Hussain shared insights from his decades-long journey across Indian, and international cinema.

“To be truly yourself in front of a thousand people, in front of the camera, is not easy,” said Hussain, as he interacted with cinema enthusiasts and acting aspirants, urging them to focus on authenticity rather than performance.

“Who are you? Not the social masks that you wear in front of your mother, father, lover, husband, or the people when you go out. But when you are in your bathroom, when nobody is watching… If you act from that absolute honest space, it will be different, always. There’s one actor who comes to my mind who was like that: Irrfan Khan. He tried his best to do that,” said Hussain.

Hailing the late actor, he added, “He tried his best to be as vulnerable, as transparent as possible. He was absolutely his best in ‘Qissa’, ‘The Namesake’, and ‘Warrior’ among others.”

Later in the day, Hussain’s own film, ‘Secret of a Mountain Serpent’, directed by Nidhi Saxena was screened at the festival. The strong reception encouraged DIFF to announce an additional screening.

Filmmaker Tannishtha Chatterjee’s ‘Full Plate’ also made its Indian debut at the festival. The movie revolves around a homemaker with a gift for cooking who battles patriarchy while preserving her individuality.

“It really means a lot to all of us. Tannishtha could not be here, but I am happy that I got to watch the film with the audience here. I am really proud of this film, and my heart is full,” said Kirti Kulhari, the lead actor of the film. The movie also stars Sharib Hashmi, Indraneil Sengupta, and Monica Dogra.

Other notable movies screened during day three included the Canadian mystery drama ‘100 Sunsets’ ‘Lesbian Space Princess’, ’Kneecap’, ‘Romería’, ’Sheep Barn’, and  ‘Letter From Wolf Street’, among others.

The ongoing 14th edition of DIFF will conclude on November 2, with filmmaker Anuparna Roy’s Venice winner ‘Songs of Forgotten Trees’ as the closing feature. The final day will also feature a special masterclass with filmmaker Kiran Rao.