Soul of Sand

Love, betrayal, honor and class conspire to make a mess of the lives of a handful of people in this independent drama from Indian filmmaker Sidharth Srinivasan. Bhanu Kumar (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) has worked nearly all his life at a silica mine on the outskirts of Dehli, and he takes his duties as a watchman with utmost seriousness. However, the mine has been closed for years, and even though his devotion to his job is frankly ridiculous, Kumar shows nothing but fealty to his upper-caste boss, Lakhmichand Ahlawat (Avtar Sahani), much to the annoyance of Kumar’s wife Saroj (Saba Joshi). Kumar is excited to learn that Ahlawat has arranged a marriage between his reckless daughter and Dharambir Dahiya, a businessman who intends to reopen the mine. One night, a young man and woman arrive at the gates of the mining compound, begging Kumar to let them inside as they’re trying to outrun a man trying to kill them. In a moment of weakness, Kumar allows them inside; it’s one of the few times he’s ever bent the rules, but he soon learns he’s made a terrible mistake that will turn Ahlawat against him. Pairon Talle (aka Soul Of Sand) was an official selection at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival., The dedicated security guard of a Delhi silica mine allows a young couple hide in the mine when they claim their lives are in danger; unfortunately, the decision leaves him fearing for his own life, as well.