When was the last time a film left you holding your breath and then quietly made you cry later that night? Mercy is doing exactly that. From its soft launch at Cannes to the stirring applause in Chicago, this film is proving that stories of love, grief, and acceptance still have the power to echo across the world—and to remind us how deeply human we all are.
A Story That Feels Like Ours
Mercy isn’t a melodrama. It’s a heartbeat. Directed by first-time filmmaker Mitul Patel, the film tells the story of Shekhar (played by Raj Vasudeva), who faces the gut-wrenching choice of whether to ease the suffering of his mother. This isn’t about death; it’s about memory, love, and the courage it takes to let go.
Supporting Shekhar’s journey are Niharica Raizada as Jiya, the loyal partner; Aparna Ghoshal as Sujata, the matriarch; Kunal Bhan as Vihaan, his conflicted brother; and Adil Hussain, in a role that feels like a balm for the soul, as Father Joel, guiding moments of despair and quiet contemplation.
There’s grief here—but not the kind that is loud. It’s the kind that lives in glances, in the small silences, in things left unsaid. And that’s what makes it so real.
A Film That Travels Light, Hits Hard
Mercy has already journeyed to many parts of the globe—and with each stop, its impact grows.
- Its trailer was first unveiled at the Indian Pavilion at Cannes in 2024, and it struck a chord immediately.
- It was showcased at the UK Asian Film Festival, Stuttgart, Melbourne—places where audiences responded not because of star power, but because they saw pieces of themselves in Shekhar’s struggle.
- In Chicago South Asian Film Festival, viewers cried, whispered, held hands. It wasn’t a showcase for spectacle—it was a gathering of shared humanity.
- Now, nominations are flowing in. Mercy has been nominated for Best Film and Best Actor (Raj Vasudeva) at the Love and Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona. Next stop: London Independent Film Festival.
The Courage of Its Creators
Making Mercy required more than technical skill—it required emotional bravery.
Raj Vasudeva is producing as well as leading. Anuradha Sachdev is a partner in Everclear Films. Their earlier short, Forbidden, tackled honour killings and traveled to more than 30 festivals. With Mercy, there’s a clear throughline: stories that aren’t easy, but stories that need to be told.
Adil Hussain has spoken about how Mercy captures emotional complexity “with honesty and grace.” The way the film treats euthanasia—not as a black-and-white issue, but as moral terrain full of shadows—is being praised. It’s the kind of subject that most people shy away from. This film doesn’t shy away. It meets the topic respectfully, with empathy.
Why We’re Holding Our Breath
What makes Mercy feel different:
- It trusts its audience – you don’t need big explosions or loud declarations to sway us. Sometimes a look, a tear, a small confession does more.
- Strong ensemble – everyone from the lead to the supporting cast brings layers. Sujata’s fragility, Vihaan’s inner conflict, Father Joel’s quiet wisdom—they all matter.
- Taboo made tender – euthanasia remains legally and morally controversial in many places. Mercy doesn’t exploit that. It invites you into the moral fog, to feel what the characters feel—not to judge, but to understand.
- Global yet personal – grief, love, loss—they’re universal. But the way Mercy roots them in family culture, in personal relationships, gives it intimacy.
- Beautiful restraint – the film doesn’t go for grandstanding. It holds back. It lets silence speak. That restraint is a strength.
What We Can All Feel
When you watch Mercy, expect to leave with something lingering—maybe a tear, maybe a question, maybe a memory of your own. It asks: when you love someone who is suffering, what are you willing to let go? And if letting go is love, what does holding on cost?
It’s a film that doesn’t rush to resolution. It doesn’t promise comfort. It promises honesty. And sometimes, that’s the rarest kind of gift.
Cast & Filmmakers Snapshot
- Shekhar (Lead) – Raj Vasudeva
- Jiya – Niharica Raizada
- Sujata – Aparna Ghoshal
- Vihaan (Brother) – Kunal Bhan
- Father Joel – Adil Hussain
Director: Mitul Patel (feature debut)
Producers: Raj Vasudeva & Anuradha Sachdev under Everclear Films
Final Thoughts
Mercy is already doing what many films can’t: holding a mirror up to the painful parts of life without vanity. Watching its journey from Cannes to Chicago to Barcelona isn’t just about festival accolades—it’s about people across continents finding something very human in its story.
When it releases more widely, expect it to do more than move you—it might change the way you think about love, loss, and what remains once goodbye becomes inevitable.