MUMBAI: Madhu Entertainment and Media’s Hindi film Shabnam Mousi, which did average business when it was released in India in May 2005, is collecting accolades at various international film festivals.

The film was screened at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival, Abuja International Film Festival, the 30th San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and Mardi Gras Film Festival 2007, Australia. The film will also be screened at the forthcoming Netherlands Transgender Film Festival (NTGF) to be held in May 2007, say the makers.

Says Yogesh Bharadwaj who has directed and written the screenplay of the film, “Shabnam Mausi is based on the real story of a eunuch. Ashutosh Rana plays the main protagonist. Govind Namdeo, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Vijay Raaz, Vivek Shauque and Mukesh Tiwari are part of the cast. This film is about a real life person, Shabnam, born to a Mumbai police officer, who runs away to Madhya Pradesh. She is proficient in 14 different languages and against all odds, goes on to become a member of Parliament. The grit and determination she has shown to overcome the evils of the society is the essence of the story.”

Bhardwaj had earlier directed Border Hindustan Ka in 2001. Shabnam Mousi is his second film. His third, Miss Anara, has been stuck with the censors for a while now.