Rahi Anil Barve, best known for cult classic Tumbbad, has taken a significant step forward with his next Hindi feature, Mayasabha – The Hall of Illusion. The film has secured a coveted spot in the WAVES Film Bazaar – Viewing Room (Indian Panorama – IFFI) section, a platform closely watched by global distributors, festival curators, producers, and sales agents.
For the 2025 edition, Film Bazaar received an exceptionally high volume of submissions from across languages and regions. After a stringent selection process, only 82 feature films made the cut — placing Mayasabha among the year’s most promising titles for international discovery and acquisition.
Set in a rain-battered Mumbai, Mayasabha tracks a tense narrative built around greed, survival, and the illusory promise of wealth. The story revolves around a parolee security guard and his sister, both struggling through life in a cramped chawl. Their lives intersect with a troubled but gifted young man and a disgraced former film producer battling ghosts of his past. At the heart of their turmoil lies a rumoured cache of missing gold — a thread that pulls the characters into a moral labyrinth, testing loyalties, relationships, and the very limits of their humanity.
For the trade, Mayasabha’s entry into the WAVES Viewing Room carries clear business implications. The section is widely regarded as a launchpad for films with strong festival potential and international sales viability. The selection not only elevates the project’s visibility but also positions it for global distribution deals, festival circuits, and cross-border collaborations.
With Barve returning to the spotlight after Tumbbad’s enduring acclaim, Mayasabha emerges as a title to watch — both for its creative ambition and its market prospects.
