Yellow Bus(2023)
Hindi112 mins
In the sweltering Arabian Gulf heat Ananda’s dreams of a better life than the one she left behind in India are shattered after her child is forgotten on a school bus. Armed with the dead child’s ashes, she stands up against society’s ‘invisible’ caste, demanding accountability and refusing the customary blood money.
Director:Wendy Bednarz
Mood:
darkemotionaldisturbing
Where to watch:
OTT availability not confirmed yet. Check Netflix · Prime Video · Hotstar · ZEE5
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 10 September 2023
- Director
- Wendy Bednarz
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A woman moves from India to the Arabian Gulf hoping for a better life. Her hopes are destroyed when her child is accidentally left on a school bus and dies. Carrying her child's ashes, she fights for justice from the people responsible, refusing to accept a payment to stay silent.
“A mother's grief ignites a fight for justice.”
Film Details
7.5Rating
112Minutes
HindiLanguage
Release Date10 September 2023
Parental Guide
Violence
Low
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Low
Vibe & Tags
Mood
darkemotionaldisturbing
Themes
survivalcorruptionjusticefamily
Tonegritty
Pacingslow-burn
Complexityrequires-attention
Audiencearthouse
Best Withalone
Violence2
Emotion5
Humor1
Rewatchability2
Cast & Crew
#1
T
Tannishtha ChatterjeeAnanda Ishwar
→#2
K
Kshethra MithunAnju Ishwar
→#3
Z
Zainab HasanTasneem Farooqi
→#4
D
Dogana EssaAmal
→#5
K
Kinda AlloushMira
→#6
M
Martin J. CorradoAssistant Principal
→#7
N
Narcisa Eleanor J. LilaLiezel
→#8
M
Mansoor AlfeeliMajor Abdullah
→#9
#10S
Sam AkelPolice Officer
→A
Amit SialGagan Ishwar
→#11
W
Wendy BednarzDirector
→#12
N
Nadia EliewatCrew
→Trivia
- The film was shot in the United Arab Emirates, using real locations to capture the harsh desert climate.
- Director Wendy Bednarz is not from India but spent years researching migrant worker conditions in the Gulf.
- The story is inspired by true events of children forgotten in vehicles, a recurring issue in hot climates.
- Lead actress Ananda was chosen partly for her ability to convey deep emotion with minimal dialogue.
- The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before its release in India.
- It uses very little background music to emphasize the stark reality of the protagonist's struggle.
- The script was workshopped with actual migrant workers to ensure authentic representation.