The survival thriller Zoram, led by Manoj Bajpayee, unveiled its trailer on Friday. Directed by Devashish Makhija, the film showcases Bajpayee portraying a displaced man who embarks on a desperate journey with his three-month-old daughter.
Within the one-and-a-half minute trailer, Bajpayee’s character, Dasaru, is depicted carrying his daughter as he returns to his village, only to find it drastically transformed since his last visit. Subsequently, we witness him fleeing from the authorities, endangering both his and his daughter’s lives. Zeeshan Ayyub takes on the role of Ratnakar, a determined police officer who stops at nothing to apprehend Bajpayee’s character.
The official logline of the movie states that Dasaru is on the run from danger and must protect his child while facing the ultimate question of survival or facing the end. The film is set in Jharkhand and tackles social inequality, injustice towards tribal communities, and deforestation. Devashish Makhija, the writer-director, believes that the film portrays the strength of human resilience and the pursuit of life despite facing insurmountable odds. Bajpayee expressed his excitement to be a part of the film and praised its boundary-crossing aspects.
In his statement, Zeeshan provided further details about his character, Ratnakar, in the film. Ratnakar is portrayed as a city policeman who is not financially well-off and occupies a lower position in the social hierarchy, even among his colleagues. This film provided Zeeshan with the opportunity to explore forests and iron ore mines for the first time, as he grew up in the city. Through this experience, he gained a deeper understanding of Ratnakar’s perspective and it encouraged him to appreciate the blessings in his own life. Zeeshan expressed his hope that this film would also impart valuable lessons to its audience. Joram, the film in question, has been showcased at various film festivals, including the 52nd International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and will be featured at the upcoming Sydney Film Festival. Additionally, it has been a part of NFDC’s film market. Produced by Zee Studios in collaboration with Makhijafilm, Joram stars Smita Tambe and Megha Mathur in the lead roles, while Tannishtha Chatterjee and Rajshri Deshpande play special roles. The film is scheduled for release in theaters on December 8.