‘Andhadhun’ Producer Matchbox Backs Film Adaptation of Honor Killing True Story ‘Shamed’ – WAVES Film Bazaar

Matchbox Shots, the Mumbai-based banner behind “Andhadhun,” “Monica O My Darling” (Netflix) and “Scoop” (Netflix), is backing “Shamed,” an official adaptation of Sarbjit Kaur Athwal’s memoir of the same name.

The book tells the real-life story of a British-Punjabi woman who, after witnessing her family conspire to kill her sister-in-law, mustered the courage to testify against them in open court. Her testimony led to the U.K.’s first bodiless murder conviction.

For producer Sarita Patil of Matchbox Shots, the project’s urgency was immediate. “What drew me to this story was the way it exposes the insidious violence that can live beneath the surface of ‘happy families’. But it also offers an extraordinary template of resistance. It’s not only a story of betrayal, but of courage, of a woman who rises against impossible odds,” says Patil, who sees “Shamed” as both cinema and advocacy, a film that can catalyse long-overdue conversations around domestic violence within South Asian communities globally.

Director-writer Dikssha Routray will be at the helm of the feature film adaptation which is part of the WAVES Film Bazaar Co-Production Market. Routray has worked as a creative producer on Hindi-language films “Andhadhun” (2018) and “Merry Christmas” (2024) and has led numerous other films and series for Matchbox Shots over the years besides directing the short films “The Ideal Bride” and “Red Velvet.”

Matchbox Shots is actively seeking international co-producers through WAVES Film Bazaar. Some 25% of the budget is already secured. “For “Shamed,” we are strategically leveraging co-production markets, private equity, and domestic and international rebates to build a strong financial structure going forward,” says Patil.

The market is the first official outing of “Shamed,” which is in the final stages of script refinement, with production targeted for 2027. “In addition to our established work, we are deeply committed to nurturing and supporting emerging talent. At Matchbox, we provide a platform for new voices to break through, offering them the opportunity to shine and contribute to the future of storytelling,” Patil adds.

WAVES Film Bazaar is the market component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa.