Rana Daggubati to release Tribeny Rai’s 'Shape of Momo' in cinemas

BIJOY GURUNG

Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Payal Kapadia onboard as Executive Producers

GANGTOK,: ‘Shape of Momo’, the debut Nepali feature film by Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai, is set for its theatrical release on May 29, 2026 in India and Nepal supported by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media. The Busan Film Festival award-winning film is backed by filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Payal Kapadia who have come on board as Executive Producers.

Featuring an ensemble cast of late Bhanu Maya Rai, Gaumaya Gurung, Pashupati Rai, Rahul Mukhia and Shyamashree Sherpa, the film is set in Sikkim and traces the lives of women across generations within a single family, shaped by emotional inheritances, silences, and everyday negotiations. It also reflects the complexity of one’s relationship with home, as both a place of comfort and something that can, at times, hold you back.

On bringing ‘Shape of Momo’ to audiences in India and beyond, Rana Daggubati, Spirit Media, shares, “Shape of Momo is a quietly powerful film that gently unfolds and stays with you. Tribeny brings a very personal lens to the film. She has a refreshing distinct voice as a filmmaker in the way she observes her characters and their world. At Spirit, we’re drawn to stories that are deeply rooted in their world and told with emotional honesty, and ‘Shape of Momo’ really reflects that. We’re committed to supporting filmmakers like Tribeny, and we’re excited to bring this film to audiences.”

The film has been championed by a strong collective of filmmakers, including Payal Kapadia, Reema Kagti, and Zoya Akhtar as Executive Producers, who lend their support to Tribeny Rai’s distinct and compelling voice

Talking about the film, Executive Producer Zoya Akhtar shared, “Shape of Momo is a deeply personal peek into the lives of three generations of Sikkimese women. With rare emotional truth, Tribeny Rai’s voice as a filmmaker is confident and clear. We love watching stories from across India, stories that bring distinct, lived-in perspectives and expand the world of Indian cinema. We are so excited that the audience that may never have visited parts of our diverse and lush country, including places like Sikkim, will now get to experience a beautiful and authentic story from there in the cinema.”

Executive Producer Reema Kagti added, “Tribeny Rai’s Shape of Momo is a film made with sensitivity, warmth and emotional insight. There’s an intimacy to the storytelling, but also an expansiveness in the way it engages with family, intergenerational bonds, womanhood, quiet rebellion, and identity. The film arrives at a moment when some of the most exciting independent cinema in India is emerging from newer voices and regions, especially from the Northeast. Films like Boong, Raptures and Village Rockstars have opened up exciting new creative possibilities within Indian independent cinema, and it’s wonderful to see Shape of Momo become part of that journey. I’m really glad that Shape of Momo is now finding its way to theatres, and I hope audiences across India discover the film and connect with it."

Executive Producer Payal Kapadia added, “Shape of Momo is a deeply moving coming-of-age of a young woman conflicted by her yearning for a home. The film feels refreshingly contemporary and Tribeny's stance is strong and uncompromising yet by the end very touching as well. I am so thrilled that this layered film - after a commendable festival journey around the world- will now find its way to audiences across India. I really hope more people come and see this wonderful movie.”

Filmmaker Tribeny Rai draws from deeply personal experiences to craft a narrative that feels rooted in its world while feeling emotionally familiar and resonating far beyond it.

“Spirit Media is one of the few Indian studios actively creating space for independent, creator-driven cinema, and we couldn’t have asked for better partners. To have Payal Kapadia champion the film is also very special, she has opened up so many avenues for Indian filmmakers, especially women filmmakers like me, and I’m deeply grateful for her support. At its heart, ‘Shape of Momo’ is a film for everyone, its emotional core is universal. It looks at relationships and identity in ways that go beyond geography, and I hope audiences will find something of themselves within it,” said Tribeny.

Produced by Dalley Khorsani Production in co-production with Kathkala Films, Shape of Momo explores womanhood and relationships, with a crew led largely by women. The film reflects the richness and diversity of Indian cinema, as part of a larger, heartening shift where stories like this are finding their place on the big screen.

Having premiered at leading international festivals including Busan International Film Festival and San Sebastián International Film Festival, ‘Shape of Momo’ has gone on to travel widely, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards across the world. Now, with its theatrical release in India, the film returns home, inviting audiences to experience this quietly powerful story on the big screen.

”Shape of Momo is my debut feature, told from a personal lens and shaped by the women and experiences around me. As someone who observes closely, I always felt my first film had to come from that space. To now have the film release in theatres in India feels like a significant milestone for our team. We make films with the hope of experiencing them on the big screen, but we’re also aware of the challenges independent films like ours face, so to see it come together like this feels surreal but also rewarding,” said Tribeny.

Awards/ Honors Received:

1) Taipei Film Commission Award (Busan International Film Festival)

2) Songwoon Vision Award (Busan International Film Festival)

3) Best Film (Indian Language) Kolkata International Film Festival

4) Jury Special Mention (Jaffna International Cinema Festival)

5) Dr. V. Shantaram Debut Director Award at 22nd Third Eye Asian Film Festival

6) Jury Special Mention Actor (Female) at 22nd Third Eye Asian Film Festival

7) Jury Award (Best Film) Guwahati Asian Film Festival

8) Second Best Asian Film at Bangalore International Film Festival

9) Silver Taiga Award for Best International Debut Film and the "Soul of Russia – World Cinema Special Prize" at the Spirit of Fire International Film Festival in Russia.

10) Indie Meme Film Festival (Best Film/ Narrative Feature)

11) Indie Meme Film Festival (Audience Choice Award)

12)Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Grand Jury Prize)

13) University of Antwerp Jury Award at Moovfilms 2026

BOX

“Shape of Momo is a quietly powerful film that gently unfolds and stays with you. Tribeny Rai brings a very personal lens to the film. She has a refreshing distinct voice as a filmmaker in the way she observes her characters and their world,” –Rana Daggubati