Guwahati: Filmmaker Khanjan Kishore Nath, who grew up in rural Assam without any deep attachment to football, has drawn inspiration from the childhood memories of friends who were passionate about the sport. Watching them play on village grounds and along dusty roads, he was struck by their unfulfilled dreams , an emotion that has now evolved into the core of his latest cinematic work.
His upcoming Karbi-language feature, Love You Messi, produced under Rura Rura Entertainment, tells the story of Rang, an eight-year-old boy from a remote hill village in Northeast India who is an ardent admirer of Lionel Messi. The child follows football obsessively, watching matches on a neighbour’s television, collecting images of his idol, and finding companionship in a stray puppy he names Tung Tung.
The narrative takes a turning point when Rang learns about Messi’s visit to India for a friendly match in Mumbai, a journey that feels both distant and transformative for the boy. However, Nath clarifies that the film is not primarily about football or the global icon himself, but rather about a disabled child’s emotional world, his imagination, and his desire to connect with a reality beyond his isolated surroundings.
Recently, the project has gained international momentum after UK-based Hong Kong creative producer Hiu Man Chan joined as executive producer following discussions at the Indian Pavilion during the Cannes Film Market. She will oversee global sales, festival strategy, and distribution outside India. Chan, a Messi admirer herself, said the film resonates strongly with audiences in Hong Kong and beyond due to its universal emotional appeal.
Nath noted that the collaboration helps ensure the story reaches wider audiences, adding that the film’s themes can connect with football lovers across the world. He also emphasised that the emotional core of the film lies in its simplicity and universality rather than its sporting backdrop.
Love You Messi marks the second Karbi-language feature from Nath and producer Ranjit Teron after Lost Path, released earlier this year. Portions of the film have already been shot during Messi’s visit to India last December, with production expected to conclude by year-end.
Set in Karbi Anglong, the filmmaker’s native region, the story uses the hills and rhythms of rural life as a vital part of its emotional texture. Nath describes the landscape as deeply intertwined with the narrative’s mood and meaning.
Through Rang’s experiences his innocence, attachments, setbacks, and eventual journey toward an unfamiliar city ,the film explores broader themes of aspiration, companionship, and human resilience. Ultimately, Nath views the project as an ode to dreams, especially those that remain unfulfilled yet continue to shape human life.
A recipient of the Rajat Kamal at the 2020 National Film Awards for his short film Kachichinithu (The Boy with a Gun), Nath is an MPhil in Mass Communication from Rajiv Gandhi University and a trained filmmaker from the Zee Institute of Media Arts, Mumbai.