London-Based Filmmaker Vaishalli Paatil Ropes In AR Rahman’s Daughter For ‘Lioness’

London-based filmmaker Vaishalli Paatil is moving in the fast lane. Vaishalli, founder of Photo Stories, is promoting Marathi cinema in the UK in a big way. This former dentist and associate producer of London Misal has roped in AR Rahman’s daughter Khatija Rahman to sing and score music  for Lioness, the first official Indo-U.K. co-production being made under the 2008 bilateral treaty.  Directed by Kajri Babbar Lioness is the story of two women who lived a century apart. The first story revolves around the suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the granddaughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the god-daughter of Queen Victoria, The second story introduces a fictional character, Simranjeet Kaur, living in London’s Southall Asian suburb in the early 1990s. Lioness is backed by India’s National Film Development Corporation and the British Film Institute. Over the last six years, Vaishalli has been involved in 10 films either as an associate, executive producer or producer. Her odyssey in Marathi movies began as production head for 36 Gunn. Later worked as an assistant director in movies like Bandh Nylon Che, Manjha, Ti and Ti, and Well Done Baby. Her initiative to promote Marathi cinema in the UK is seeing Marathi filmmakers based in Maharashtra reaching out to her. She fills the gap for those who have budget constraints, and also, finding Marathi speaking talent with a skill set in London.  According to her, Marathi producers from India prefer to shoot in the UK.

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