US-based film-maker Mitesh Kumar Patel set to release his debut film in India next month
US-based entrepreneur-turned-film-maker Mitesh Kumar Patel is releasing his debut bi-lingual Hollywood film -- a mix of mystery, horror and adventure -- in theatres across India this coming month.
Mitesh Patel, who is the scriptwriter, director and producer of The Man in the Maze , says the film in both Hindi and English is being released in India first because he believes that cinema lovers in this country generally watch horror movies from Hollywood with great curiosity and anticipation.
“My film is for those who love watching horror, suspense and action films. Horror movies from Hollywood film-makers do profitable business in India. The Man in the Maze has a universal story and it took me two years to make it,” says Mitesh.
Mitesh, who was born in the small village of Kherva near Vadodara, says it is not important where he releases his film first.
“What matters is that every person watching it should enjoy it. The Man in the Maze has been screened at multiple film festivals across the US and Canada where the response has been overwhelming. I felt September is the appropriate time to release the film in India. It would be appropriate to release the film in the US towards October end because Halloween is celebrated in a big way there and my film is a kind of horror movie.”
Noting that the film is a slice of life from a particular period in American history, the film-maker says it is about the original inhabitants – the Red Indians.
“The film is based 150 years ago and we had to recreate a bygone era,” he adds.
The Man in the Maze is about a group of college friends who undertake an excursion to learn more about the American Indian trail of tears. While travelling through the woods, they stumble upon a mound that marks the burial site of a native American family that died on the trail. The mound was cursed by a distraught family member, and whoever disturbs it unleashes trouble and is terrorized by an unknown force.
Major cities
The film will be released in major Indian cities on September 2 in English and Hindi under the Applied Art Productions banner. Andrew Roth, Liana Werner-Gray, Erik A. Williams, and Stephanie Lomenick are the leading actors of the movie.
The lead actor is Andrew Roth who has worked both in front and rear of the camera in more than 25 feature films.
“Whether it is directing, producing or acting, Andrew brings an intensity and professionalism to each production,” says the film-maker. Liana Werner-Gray of Australia is the lead female actor.
