Short Films: Ru Ba Ru + Shunya, Being Prafulla Mohanti
Tongues on Fire - UK Asian Film 2026
In its 28th year, the UK Asian Film Festival 2026 celebrates powerful cinema from South Asia and its diaspora, uniting bold storytelling and diverse voices under this year's theme, ‘Stories That Bind Us’.
Tongues on Fire - UK Asian Film 2026
RU BA RU (30min)
Story by & Director: Kapil Tanwar
Key cast members: Indira Tiwari (Bhadra), Richa Meena (Rukmini), Lokesh Mittal (Bhanu), Anita Pradhan (mother/Janki)
Language: Hindi, Marwari
Two sisters—one a rudaali (professional mourner), the other a nachaniya (dancer)—struggle to preserve survival, dignity, and womanhood in rural Rajasthan. Battling casteism, societal judgement, and unwanted male attention, they discover strength in sisterhood and rebellion that needs no words. Ru Ba Ru is a raw and intimate portrait of Rajasthan—unfiltered, deeply rooted in Indian culture, and layered with the nuances of Indian filmmaking. A rare cinematic experience that is both viscerally real and culturally resonant.
Shunya, Being Prafulla Mohanti (72m) + Panel Discussion
Director: Soumya Pratihari
The Cosmic Circle is a concise portrait of Prafulla Mohanti, a 91-year-old artist whose work reflects the idea of “shunya,” or infinity. From his beginnings in an Indian village to a successful career in England, the film follows his journey through art, migration, and adversity—including a racist attack that led him to fully embrace painting and writing.
Supported by his partner Derek Moore and later coping with his loss, Mohanti continues to create and give back to his village through art initiatives. Featuring insights from figures like Jeremy Seabrook and Richard Long, the documentary highlights a life defined by resilience, creativity, and lasting cultural impact.
