Mumbai: Two Indian films, Richie Mehta's Phoolan and Theja Rio's Angh, are set to make their mark at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), with both films bringing distinct Indian stories to the global stage.

Mehta's Hindi-language film Phoolan, based on the life of former dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi, will have its world premiere in the Special Presentations section. The film is scheduled to be screened on September 16 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

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Written and directed by Mehta, the film is inspired by the 1997 book I, Phoolan – The Autobiography of India's Bandit Queen. It focuses on a defining episode in Phoolan Devi's life, revolving around a brutal 48-hour siege in which more than 2,000 armed men reportedly surrounded a village in an attempt to kill her.

Set in India's heartland, the film follows the journey of an impoverished 17-year-old girl who later became one of the country's most famous outlaws. Sneha Kumari plays the titular role, while Anurag Thakur, Vikram Pratap Singh, Aakash Dahiya, Prateek Pachori and Dev Dutt Budholiya feature in key roles.

Phoolan is produced by Shareen Mantri Kedia, Kishor Arora, Kanwal Kohli and Mehta under the banner of Namah Pictures. The film is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video after its festival run.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Theja Rio's debut feature Angh has been selected for the Platform Competition, TIFF's competitive section that showcases distinctive, director-driven cinema. The film is among 12 titles selected from around the world for the 2026 line-up.

Written and directed by Rio, Angh is set in Nagaland in the 1960s and explores a story rooted in the region's history and culture. The film marks Rio's first feature after a series of internationally screened and award-winning short films.

"It is deeply humbling to see a story from Nagaland find a place on a global platform like TIFF. We hope the film resonates with audiences across cultures while remaining true to the place and people it represents," Rio said.

The selection also comes with added significance for the Platform section. From this year, the winner of the Platform Award will automatically qualify for consideration in the Academy Awards' International Feature Film category, subject to the Academy's eligibility rules.

The 51st Toronto International Film Festival will be held from September 10 to 20, bringing filmmakers and films from across the world to one of the major international platforms for cinema.
(With PTI inputs)