The Cycle

Short Film Competition

Year: 2024

Length: 17 mins

Country: India

Language: Panjabi

Directed by: Arpita Mukherjee

Produced by: Rahul V. Chittella

Starring: Pihu Sand (Preet)

SEE THE FILM

Thursday Feb 19, 8:55 PM-11:50 PM – Thursday Night Program 4 – Films + QA

THE CYCLE tracks a day in the life of a young Punjabi housewife in Chandigarh, India who is obsessed with losing weight as she joins a cycling club and grapples with the cost of individuality and freedom.

About the Director

Arpita Mukherjee is an NYC-based, award-winning writer and director and the co-founder and Artistic Director of Hypokrit. Recent film credits include: director for the short film RUNNING (Best Short Film – Chicago South Asian Film Festival), co-writer of feature film GULMOHAR on Hulu and HOTSTAR (Filmfare Best Screenplay Award, National Award) and projects for SWIIP, AMC, Sony, and Netflix.

Reviews & Interviews

The Cycle: Losing the Weight of Societal Expectations – by Ashley Cohen for Winter Film Festival
Arpita Mukherjee’s New Short ‘The Cycle’ to Premiere at NYIFF – ITV Gold

Photos

Click on photo to view

WFF Interviews

Awards

2025 Birmingham Film Festival – Best International Film nominee

Films from Asia, Films Made by New Yorkers, Films Made By Women, Spotlight on Asian Women Directors

Arpita Mukherjee, Films from India, Films Made by Women, International Film Festival, Pihu Sand, Rahul Chittella, The Cycle, V. Chittella