Prithvi Konanur’s ‘Hadinelentu’ is the only Indian film in PIFF’s World Competition

A software engineer-turned-filmmaker, who went to the New York Film Academy, Konanur made a short film in the beginning, A Conditional Truce, which was shot in Sri Lanka and well-received in the festival circuit worldwide.

Written by: Dipanita Nath

4 min readPuneFeb 5, 2023 10:11 AM IST

A still from the film

Listen to this article

Prithvi Konanur’s ‘Hadinelentu’ is the only Indian film in PIFF’s World Competition

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Prithvi Konanur’s Kannada film Hadinelentu (Seventeeners) starts on a note of dread. Two teenagers are creating a video of their lovemaking in an empty college classroom and the audience knows that this can only end badly.

Films such as Dev D and Masaan have delved into the intersection of sex and digital technology over the years. But Konanur draws out the themes of class and social-caste identities as the film, the only Indian film in the World Competition section of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), unfolds.

In Hadinelentu, that complexity comes forth as at the principal’s office, it is revealed that the girl’s mother works as a cook in a government school while the boy’s mother drives to college in a big car. He is also a Brahmin, who prays every evening, and she is a Dalit. The school then sets up a panel to investigate the teenagers’ acts, the video being shown on porn sites, and, eventually, a human rights activist and lawyer enters the picture.

Hadinelentu has been screened at the Busan Film Festival and the Kerala Film Festival, among others. Konanur’s other films, Alegalu (Waves), Railway Children, and Pinki Elli (Where is Pinki?) have been screened at previous editions of PIFF. Hadinelentu will be shown at PIFF on February 5 and 6 and Konanur will be travelling from Bengaluru to be with the audience this time on the second day.

Other reads | PMC’s city engineer registers FIR against twitter handle for posting ‘defamatory content’

“You see a lot of students at PIFF. They are very curious. I could not have a lot of interaction with them because, usually, there is a press conference the next day but that is limited to the press. I wish I can speak to students this time,” says Konanur.

A software engineer-turned-filmmaker, who went to the New York Film Academy, Konanur made a short film in the beginning, A Conditional Truce, which was shot in Sri Lanka and well-received in the festival circuit worldwide. “Fundamentally, I consider myself a storyteller. What is a good story? I think a good story leans more towards originality and authenticity,” he says.

How does he find a story that is original and authentic? “We have to look in the society, Look around you and that is where you’ll find original stories and characters. Of course, we never succeed but we make an attempt to tell a story as authentically as possible within the resources that we have,” says the filmmaker.

Story continues below this ad

He was at a government office in Bengaluru when they mentioned children who survive in railway stations and the plans to rehabilitate them. The stories he came across became his second feature film, Railway Children, which won the lead, Mahonara K, a National Award for Best Child Artist and Karnataka State Award for Best Child Actor, among others.

Hadinelentu has been screened at the Busan Film Festival and the Kerala Film Festival, among others.

The idea of Hadinelentu was on his mind for a long time, ever since cases of videos being leaked on the internet started being reported. “But, the question was how do you explore it? How do you make it original?” says Konanur. For that, he went into the intricacies of law and delved into the social impacts of such incidents.

When the film ends, the audience leaves with the knowledge that this is not closure. “In such cases, ending with a definite resolution or conclusion would be forced. What you feel is that, in many ways, it is a beginning of a bigger story,” says Konanur.

Among the actors in the film are Sherlyn Bhosale, Neeraj Matthew, Rekha Kudligi, and Bhavani Prakash among others.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
piff

Loading Recommendations...

Apr 15: Latest News

Live Blog