WALKAWAY... FROM DESIRES OR TRADITONS? - Tia Virdi's Choice for StarBuzz Readers

Pan-US Release of Bollywood-style Independent American Feature Film

(New York, NY - September 30, 2010) Shailja Gupta's debut feature film Walkaway (2010) will hit the box-office on October 22, 2010 through Reliance Cinemas at 26 screens across 18 cities.

Walkaway (IMDB) , a light-comedy drama, mocks the clutches of social obligations on young Indian professionals settled in New York City. Exploring the subtleties of the Indian mega-institution of marriage, from the now-veiled urban dowry system to the overwhelming compromises demanded of a cross-cultural couple, the film weaves through the lives of four friends who struggle to balance engrained values with modern environs in the fast-paced melting-pot that is New York

In this South-Asian male version of Sex and the City, Darius, Vinay, Shridhar and Soham - single, dating, engaged and married, strive to maintain some semblance of sanity while questioning themselves, their desires and choices, and the importance of unshakeable traditions. Join them and their loved ones on this journey fraught with ethnic and generational differences, and the pressures of modern relationships and careers. What will they choose to walk away from - family, love, or their roots?

Walkaway is an English-language, independent American film, made with Bollywood flair and influences. The film has received tremendous support from the Bollywood community. Renowned actor Shah Rukh Khan's production house Red Chillies Entertainment assisted in the post-production, editing and VFX. "As a successful member of our Indian film industry, it is my pleasure to support up-and-coming filmmakers like Shailja," said Mr. Khan.

Academy Award winner (Sound Mixing for Slumdog Millionaire) Resul Pookutty provided the sound design and mixing for Walkaway. Mr. Pookutty said, "I was impressed by the director's passion and energy, which has resulted in a fantastic product!"

CAST: Manu Narayan, Samrat Chakrabarti, Manish Dayal, Sanjeev Jhaveri, Deepti Gupta, Carrie Anne James, Pallavi Sharda, Ami Sheth

DIRECTOR: After a successful career in New Media and Information Technology, Shailja actively pursued her passion for films - Global Marketing Manager for the Indian National award winner (2003) and internationally acclaimed film - Chokher Bali, followed by Assistant Script Supervisor for another Indian National award winner (2005) - Raincoat, starring the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Drawing from her Indian roots and urban life as a young South Asian professional in New York City, Shailja wrote, directed and produced her first feature film - Walkaway, in 2009-2010.

Online Press Premiere Screening: Members of the media can watch the film from 2 p.m. EST on Thursday, October 15 to 2 p.m. Friday, October 16, 2010. To reserve your online-spot, please RSVP to walkawaymovie@gmail.com or call Neerja Patel 612-220-3617

-StarBuzz weekly, Toronto