EXCLUSIVE: An incredible love story is coming to the Telluride Film Festival, one taken not from the pages of a novel but from real life.
The Cycle of Love, directed by Oscar winner Orlando von Einsiedel (The White Helmets, Virunga), documents the romantic journey of PK Mahanandia, a Delhi street artist who trekked 6,000 miles by bicycle in 1977, venturing across continents “to reunite with the woman he loved.”
The documentary was announced today as part of the lineup for the 52nd edition of Telluride, which begins Friday and runs through Sunday. Von Einsiedel’s Grain Media revealed that actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Anne Carey of Purple Pebble Pictures have come on board as executive producers. We have your first look at the film in the clip above.
The Cycle of Love rewinds to the mid-1970s when Mahanandia first met Lotta Von Schedvin who was visiting the metropolis of Delhi in Northern India.
An actor portrays PK Mahanandia on his epic romantic journey
Courtesy of Franklin Dow
“Our film tells the extraordinary story of PK Mahanandia’s journey in search of love despite the world being stacked against him,” said von Einsiedel, alluding to Mahanandia’s background from a poor, “untouchable” family. “It’s a thrilling and epic adventure about human connection and kindness, and a story that I believe transcends borders and nationalities. To have one of the world’s biggest stars joining our team to celebrate PK and his journey is truly a dream come true.”
Von Einsiedel continued, “Priyanka, and her team at Purple Pebble Pictures, are known for their longstanding commitment to powerful stories of resilience against incredible odds. I firmly believe that everyone deserves to find love, and I’m thrilled to be partnering with Priyanka and team to get our film out to a truly global audience, and help share a much-needed story of joy.”
The Cyle of Love is an acquisition title; the film team led by BD4 – Banijay America’s latest premium production label — is handling sales.
Actors portray Lotta and PK in a scene from ‘The Cycle of Love’
Courtesy of Franklin Dow
To capture the love story, von Einsiedel and team combined archive material, interviews, verité documentary sequences, and “emotionally authentic portrayals of real-life events.” Deadline understands Mahanandia joined the film team on location throughout production to ensure the most accurate and authentic portrayal possible of past events.
The clip below is taken from a sequence of PK and Lotta’s first meeting in Delhi in 1975, when PK was a street artist. Mahanandia appears in it, as do actors portraying the younger PK and Lotta.
