It’s a moment of validation and pride for Abhishek Banerjee as his film, Stolen, has been nominated in two top categories at the upcoming Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) 2025. Karan Tejpal’s directorial debut has earned him a nomination in the Best Director category, and is in the running for the Best Feature Film (Fiction) award. An elated Banerjee told mid-day, “I feel Stolen was made for a universal audience. Thanks to the guts of Gaurav [Dhingra, producer] and Karan, it’s representing India at the prestigious event.”
Also starring Shubham Vardhan and Mia Maelzer, and set in rural India, Stolen tells the story of two brothers who help a woman rescue her abducted child. To Banerjee, the recognition is a validation of the risks they took in backing an uncompromising story. “It’s not easy to stand by a film like this. It’s not a big-budget spectacle or a formulaic drama, but that was the reason we wanted to do it. Sometimes, you have to believe in the power of the story more than the numbers.”
If the movie won acclaim at various film festivals and is now vying for awards, the credit goes to Tejpal, said the actor. “Karan brought sensitivity to the subject. He never treated it like just another thriller; he wanted it to be honest and human. It takes courage for a debut director to stick to his vision the way Karan did. The fact that stories from our independent film scene can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best films coming out of Asia is something to celebrate.”
Best Film contenders
>> ‘Lembayung’ (Indonesia)
>> ‘Bullet Train Explosion’ (Japan)
>> ‘Though Dead, Still Alive’ (Taiwan)
