MUMBAI: Ribhu Dasgupta’s Michael will kick off the 14th London Asian Film Festival due from 16 to 24 March.

"This debut work takes its place in India’s emerging independent cinema which attempts to portray its current social predicament head on, no holds barred. The film, produced by Anurag Kashyap and starring Naseeruddin Shah, follows the lives of a chain of people as they merge and get lost in Kolkata‘s landscape," reads the official website of the festival.

Other films that would also be screened alongside are Michael Winterbottom’s Trishna, Salim Ahamed’s Adaminte Makan Abu, Italo Spinell’s Gangor, Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol and Rubaiyat Hossain’s Meherjaan.

Taking an award for his work on disability in Indian cinema will be Sanjay Leela Bhansali. His films Black and Guzaarish will also be screened at the festival.

Abhishek Bachchan will open the London Asian Film Festival along with writer and British comedian Meera Sayal.