Written, edited, designed, and directed by Gitanjali Rao, Bombay Rose was India’s official entry to the Oscars in the Animated film category. This feature film explores a love story amidst the bustling grind of the big and crowded Mumbai city. This award-winning film recently released on Netflix and here are 5 reasons why you absolutely need to add this film to your must-watch list

1. The film covers very relevant topics

Bombay Rose highlights the shackles of patriarchy and societal pressures that women have to endure through the life of the lead character, Kamala. We see the struggles she faces as she tried to make ends met by supporting her younger school-going sister and her grandfather who rescued her and her sister from their good-for-nothing father. We watch Kamala slowly fall in love with a Muslim man named Salim who sold flowers on the road from across her.

2. The stunning hand-painted animations

One of the most striking features of this film is the incredible and visually striking animation. Gitanjali Rao and her team of 60 artists took 18 months to hand-paint this film frame-by-frame. Each frame is exquisite and mesmerizing.

3. Everyone is allowed to dream!

In one beautiful and pure sequence, Kamala has a conversation with her grandfather and they talk about the privilege of being able to dream despite the tragic situations they have gone through. They talk about how the sea represents dreams that have no limits and that it may not be such a bad thing to dare to dream past your current situation.

4. The acmchi Bombay charm!

This film depicts the everyday life and hustle of the people living in the city of dreams – Bombay. It tries to show an authentic version of the city before the tall skyscrapers, malls, and metro lines took over.

5. A seamless transition between dream and reality

The film makes shifts from Kamala’s reality to her dream world and dream life she would like to live. Her fantasy land is beautiful and royal. We see Kamala adorned with gold jewellery as she enjoys precious and romantic moments with Salim in this world.