The debut feature film 'Shape of Momo', directed by filmmaker Tribeny Rai, is scheduled for its theatrical release on 29 May 2026 in India and Nepal. The film has received support from Rana Daggubati's Spirit Media, along with backing from renowned filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Payal Kapadia, who have come on board as Executive Producers.
Cast and Setting
The film features an ensemble cast including the late Bhanu Maya Rai, Gaumaya Gurung, Pashupati Rai, Rahul Mukhia, and Shyamashree Sherpa. Set in a Himalayan village in Sikkim, the narrative traces the lives of women across generations within a single family. It delves into emotional inheritances, silences, and everyday negotiations, reflecting the complexity of one's relationship with home as both a place of comfort and something that can sometimes hold one back.
Festival Journey and Production
The Busan Film Festival award-winning debut, produced by Dalley Khorsani Production and co-produced by Kathkala Films, has traveled widely across leading international festivals. The film has garnered critical acclaim and multiple awards worldwide.
'Shape of Momo' is described as a film of striking emotional clarity, marking the arrival of a singular new voice in Indian cinema. Filmmaker Tribeny Rai draws from deeply personal experiences to craft a narrative that feels rooted in its world while remaining emotionally familiar and resonating far beyond it.
Director's Perspective
Speaking about the film and its journey, Tribeny Rai shared, "'Shape of Momo' is my debut feature, told from a personal lens and shaped by the women and experiences around me. As someone who observes closely, I always felt my first film had to come from that space. To now have the film release in theatres in India feels like a significant milestone for our team. We make films with the hope of experiencing them on the big screen, but we're also aware of the challenges independent films like ours face, so to see it come together like this feels surreal but also rewarding. Spirit Media is one of the few Indian studios actively creating space for independent, creator-driven cinema, and we couldn't have asked for better partners."
She further added, "To have Payal Kapadia champion the film is also very special. She has opened up so many avenues for Indian filmmakers, especially women filmmakers like me, and I'm deeply grateful for her support. At its heart, 'Shape of Momo' is a film for everyone; its emotional core is universal. It looks at relationships and identity in ways that go beyond geography, and I hope audiences will find something of themselves within it."
Spirit Media's Vision
On bringing 'Shape of Momo' to audiences in India and beyond, Rana Daggubati of Spirit Media shared, "'Shape of Momo' is a quietly powerful film that gently unfolds and stays with you. Tribeny brings a very personal lens to the film. She has a refreshingly distinct voice as a filmmaker in the way she observes her characters and their world. At Spirit, we're drawn to stories that are deeply rooted in their world and told with emotional honesty, and 'Shape of Momo' really reflects that. We're committed to supporting filmmakers like Tribeny, and we're excited to bring this film to audiences."
Executive Producers' Support
The film has been championed by a strong collective of filmmakers, including Payal Kapadia, Reema Kagti, and Zoya Akhtar as Executive Producers, who lend their support to Tribeny Rai's distinct and compelling voice.
Executive Producer Zoya Akhtar shared, "'Shape of Momo' is a deeply personal peek into the lives of three generations of Sikkimese women. With rare emotional truth, Tribeny Rai's voice as a filmmaker is confident and clear. We love watching stories from across India, stories that bring distinct, lived-in perspectives and expand the world of Indian cinema. We are so excited that the audience that may never have visited parts of our diverse and lush country, including places like Sikkim, will now get to experience a beautiful and authentic story from there in the cinema."
Executive Producer Reema Kagti added, "Tribeny Rai's 'Shape of Momo' is a film made with sensitivity, warmth and emotional insight. There's an intimacy to the storytelling, but also an expansiveness in the way it engages with family, intergenerational bonds, womanhood, quiet rebellion and identity. The film arrives at a moment when some of the most exciting independent cinema in India is emerging from newer voices and regions, especially from the Northeast. Films like 'Boong', 'Raptures' and 'Village Rockstars' have opened up exciting new creative possibilities within Indian independent cinema, and it's wonderful to see 'Shape of Momo' become part of that journey. I'm really glad that 'Shape of Momo' is now finding its way to theatres, and I hope audiences across India discover the film and connect with it."
Executive Producer Payal Kapadia added, "'Shape of Momo' is a deeply moving coming-of-age story of a young woman conflicted by her yearning for a home. The film feels refreshingly contemporary and Tribeny's stance is strong and uncompromising, yet by the end very touching as well. I am so thrilled that this layered film — after a commendable festival journey around the world — will now find its way to audiences across India. I really hope more people come and see this wonderful movie."
Production and Themes
Produced by Dalley Khorsani Production in co-production with Kathkala Films, 'Shape of Momo' explores womanhood and relationships, with a crew led largely by women. The film reflects the richness and diversity of Indian cinema, as part of a larger, heartening shift where stories like this are finding their place on the big screen.
Having premiered at leading international festivals including the Busan International Film Festival and the San Sebastián International Film Festival, 'Shape of Momo' has gone on to travel widely, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards across the world. Now, with its theatrical release in India, the film returns home, inviting audiences to experience this quietly powerful story on the big screen.
