A redemption story set in the MMA world will steal your heart
New Delhi, India, November 20, 2024 : The US production ‘American Warrior’, featured and awarded at
multiple international film festivals, will have its Asia premiere at the 55th
IFFI in Goa on November 24 at 12:30pm at INOX, Panjim. The heartfelt story of
an Indian immigrant set in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) centres on the
universal theme of redemption and second chances. Peruvian-American director
Gustavo Martin Benites makes his debut with American Warrior.
The story follows an Indian immigrant,
"Jai Kumar" (played by Indian-American actor, Vishy Ayyar), a former
convict and amateur MMA fighter who rises from obscurity to local fame after
thwarting a convenience store robbery. As "Jai" navigates newfound
and unwelcome attention, he is pushed to confront his past demons. Against all
odds, he seizes the opportunity for a comeback. With the deck stacked against
him, he enters a local MMA tournament for one last shot at redemption.
In a historic first, ‘American Warrior’
brings together Indian, American, and Latin-American stars in a Hollywood
production. The dynamic and star-studded cast includes acclaimed actors such as
Omi Vaidya, best known for his performance as "Chatur Ramalingam" in
the Indian film 3 Idiots. Danny Trejo, known globally for his iconic roles in
action movies like Machete, plays the role of "Dennis", a seasoned
MMA coach. Veronica Falcón, Ozark fame, as "Marcella", the tenacious
owner of a local gym; and Andrew Gray, who starred as the Red Ranger in Power
Rangers Megaforce, as "Marcus", "Jai’s fierce opponent in the
ring.
Each actor brings a depth of emotion to the
screen. They embody characters marked by resilience and the message that it is
never too late to pick yourself up and move forward with the life you truly
want.
Vishy Ayyar, the protagonist, is one of the
few Indian Americans actors dedicated to pushing boundaries in leading roles
within Hollywood’s action genre. Vishy is the story’s creator, and shines in
the lead role of "Jai Kumar", bringing his real-life experience as an
MMA fighter and his personal journey as an immigrant to the screen. Speaking
about his character, Ayyar shared, "'Jai's journey mirrors my own
experiences in many ways, and I’m grateful to bring a piece of my own life
story to such an impactful role. ‘American Warrior' is about finding strength
in vulnerability. It’s a raw portrayal of identity and what it means to grapple
with one's past. It was an honour to share that message with audiences, and I
hope they see themselves in it."
Verónica Falcón describes her role as Jai’s
unlikely mentor, “Marcella’s grit is unmatched, and she sees something in Jai
that others have overlooked. ‘American Warrior' is about second chances, and it
was a privilege to bring Marcella’s unapologetic strength to the screen.”
Veronica is one of Mexico's most celebrated actresses, and was the first
Mexican-born actress to land a leading role in US Television. Her most
recognisable US productions include Jungle Cruise, Voyagers, Queen of The
South, Ozark, Perry Mason, and Why Women Kill?
Taylor Treadwell plays "Melissa",
a role that required navigating complex and delicate human relations as a
single mother in recovery and the love interest of the film. She is not only in
love with "Jai" but also becomes his emotional anchor. “Melissa’s journey is about healing and
understanding. Working on this film reminded me of the importance of resilience
and forgiveness—qualities that resonate with all of us”, says Taylor. She is
known for her roles in Big Little Lies, Knight & Day, Ray Donovan, and
Vampire Diaries.
‘American Warrior’ was shot in the vibrant,
atmospheric city of Chicago in real old school boxing gyms and features real
MMA fighters. ‘American Warrior’ is visually spectacular. It uses a strong
singular point of view and the elevated-documentary approach.
The film’s producers, Naveen A.
Chathapuram, Cristy Coors Beasley and Rashaana Shah, as a team have more than
two dozen feature films, shorts and digital series to their credit in
Hollywood.
Cristy Coors Beasley, one of the producers,
shared her thoughts on bringing American Warrior to life, “Producing it has
been an incredible journey. This film is about finding purpose - a subject that
feels deeply personal to all. We wanted to show the intense, gritty heart of
MMA. At the same time, portray the vulnerability and strength of the human
spirit. And the immensely talented cast and crew were committed to telling that
story. So, the result was as powerful emotionally as it was visually. I
couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together.”
This is the first co-production between
Immortal Thoughts, Mulberry Films and Fabled Frames.
The film is expected to be released
worldwide around April 2025.
American Warrior was showcased at numerous
festivals including the 33rd Heartland Film Festival, Tallgrass Film Festival,
Tasveer Film Festival, San Antonio Film Festival, and the Santa Fe Film
Festival in 2024 where the film and its stars were honored with four awards
including Best Actress for Veronica Falcón and Best Cinematographer for Derek
Fisher.
For more information on the film, please
visit: www.fabled-frames.com/american-warrior