Mumbai-based sales company Madhu Entertainment & Media, which is fast becoming a regular at film markets, has picked up international rights to Mr And Mrs Iyer (aka Love In The Time Of Violence), an English-language film by Aparna Sen.

The film had its premiere in Locarno, where it won the NETPAC award for best Asian film, and is next set to appear at the Mill Valley festival (October 3-13), the London Film Festival (Nov 6-23) and in Pusan (Nov 14-21).

"Written in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and six months before the Gujarat riots, the film is almost prophetic in nature," said Hirachand Dand, chief operating officer of Madhu. The film is a romance set against the background of terrorism with a story that features a couple thrown together when the bus they are travelling on is stopped by Hindu extremists who are on a blood feud in search of Muslims.

It is actress-director Aparna Sen's second English language film after the critically acclaimed, 36 Chowringhee Lane in 1981. It was produced by Triplecom Media and executive produced by Rupali Mehta.