Pinki Elli

Pinki Elli?
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPrithvi Konanur
StarringAkshatha Pandavapura
Anoop Shoonya
Deepak Subramanya
Gunjalamma
CinematographyP Arjun Raja
Production
company
Picture Tree International
Release dates
CountryIndia
LanguageKannada

Pinki Elli? (transl.Where is Pinki?) is a 2020 Indian Kannada-language drama film directed by Prithvi Konanur and starring Akshatha Pandavapura, Anoop Shoonya, Deepak Subramanya, and Gunjalamma. The film was screened at the Bengaluru International Film Festival.[2]

Plot

Inspired by a true incident that happened in Bengaluru ten years ago, an 8-month-old baby nicknamed Pinki goes missing.[3]

Cast

  • Akshatha Pandavapura as Bindushree, Pankaja/Pinki's mother
  • Anoop Shoonya as Girish
  • Deepak Subramanya as Manjunath
  • Gunjalamma as Sanamma

Reception

A critic from The News Minute wrote, "the collective impact of the sensitive material, the style of filmmaking, and the overall authenticity is undeniably overwhelming".[4] A critic from The Hindu wrote, "The minimalistic performances compliment the realistic nature of the film. Pinki Elli shows people struggling to match the pace of the bustling city. They are all flawed. Yet, at some level, we sympathise with them".[5] A critic from Bangalore Mirror rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "It is a must watch for all".[6] A Sharadhaa of Cinema Express gave the film the same rating and wrote, "Pinki Elli? sheds light on rare and lesser-explored aspects of life. It doesn’t rely on overt dialogues to deliver its messages; instead, they are skillfully woven into the fabric of each scene".[7] A critic from OTTplay gave the film the same rating and wrote, "It’s a serious film that cuts to the chase in no time. If thought-provoking cinema with no extra frills (the film does not even have a background score)".[8]

Accolades

The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival under the 'Window on Asian Cinema' section.

The film became the first Kannada film to be chosen as the inaugural film of the New York Indian Film Festival where it won the Best Screenplay Award and Akshatha Pandavapura won the Best Actor Award.[9] It also won the 2020 Karnataka State Film Award for Best Film, which was awarded in 2025.[3]

International Film Festival of India 2020
  • Indian Panorama — Pinki Elli?
Prague International Film Festival 2021
  • Nominee Amnesty International Febiofest Award – Pinki Elli?
Asian Film Festival, Barcelona 2021
  • Winner Best Film (Panorama Section) — Pinki Elli?
Hainan International Film Festival 2020
  • Nominee Golden Coconut Awad – Pinki Elli?
Mumbai Film Festival 2020
  • Nominee Golden Gateway award
Bengaluru International Film Festival 2021
  • Winner Best Kannada Film – Pinki Elli?/Prithvi Konanur
  • Nominee Best Indian Film – Pinki Elli?/Prithvi Konanur
  • Nominee Best Asian Film – Pinki Elli?/Prithvi Konanur
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
  • Winner Best Director Special Jury Mention – Prithvi Konanur
  • Nominee Best Indie Film – Pinki Elli?
  • Nominee Best Actress – Akshatha Pandavapura
Critics’ Choice Film Awards 2024
  • Nominee Best Supporting Actress - Gunjalamma
Karnataka State Film Awards 2020
Filmfare Awards South 2024
Kolkata International Film Festival
  • Nominee Best Director – Prithvi Konanur
  • Nominee Best Film – Pinki Elli?
New York Indian Film Festival
Fipresci India Grandprix
  • Nominee Top 10 Indian Films of 2020 – Pinki Elli?
Ottawa Indian Film Festival 2023
  • Winner Best Screenplay – Prithvi Konanur
  • Winner Best Actress Special Mention – Akshatha Pandavapura
  • Nominee Best Film – Pinki Elli?
Festival Screenings

References

  1. ^ Frater, Patrick (September 14, 2020). "Busan Selection 'Where Is Pinki?' Picked up by Picture Tree Int'l". Variety.
  2. ^ "Social thriller 'Pinki Elli' extends dream run as BIFFes comes to an end". Deccan Herald.
  3. ^ a b "Karnataka State Film Awards 2020: Prajwal, Akshata best actors; Pinki Elli? wins best film". The Times of India. March 13, 2025.
  4. ^ "Pinki Elli? review: A restrained, simmering chronicle of urban distress". The News Minute. June 3, 2023.
  5. ^ M.V, Vivek (June 2, 2023). "'Pinki Elli' Kannada movie review: A social thriller that hits strikingly close to reality". The Hindu.
  6. ^ "Pinki Elli Movie Review: Society, dissected". Bangalore Mirror.
  7. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (June 3, 2023). "Pinki Elli? Movie Review: A natural and emotionally charged tale". Cinema Express.
  8. ^ "Pinki Elli review: Prithvi Konanur's film explores if a child is safe at home". OTTPlay.
  9. ^ "Kannada film 'Pinki Elli' wins two awards at New York Indian Film Festival 2021". The News Minute. June 14, 2021.