MUMBAI: The National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) has commenced the shooting of its home production As the River Flows.

The film, a socio-political thriller, talks of social conflicts and individual commitments in an age where being self centered is the norm. As the River Flows, written and directed by National award winning filmmaker Bidyut Kotoky, tells the story of a journalist named Abhijit Shandilya who is caught in a multi-layered world of intriguing happenings in the largest inhabited river island in the world, Majuli, in Assam.

The cast of the film includes veteran actor Victor Banerjee along with popular actors like Sanjay Suri, Raj Zutshi, Nakul Vaid, Naved Aslam and newcomer Bidita Bag. The music of the film is being given by well-known singer and music composer Zubin Garg.

The film is a bilingual film being made in Hindi and Assamese. While the Hindi version is named as As The River Flows, its Assamese version will be called Ekhon Nedhekha Nadir Shipaare.

Talking about the new project, director Kotoky says, "Initially I had my apprehension regarding NFDC, considering the general conception associated with a government organisation. But I must say, my experience with them came as a pleasant surprise and can now claim that the NFDC still remains the best bet for a newcomer if you have a good story to tell."

NFDC, till date, has produced and financed more than 300 films in 15 Indian languages and has more than 15 international co-productions to their credit. Its catalogue includes some award winning films like Gandhi, Salaam Bombay, Massey Sahib, The Making of Mahatma and Train to Pakistan. The Corporation has worked with some of most acclaimed filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Mira Nair, Aparna Sen, Ketan Mehta and Girish Kasaravalli.