It's that time of the year when the IPL fever rules, daily soaps are going strong and there's a lull with not many films releasing. In such times, Gurinder Chadha's 'It's a Wonderful Afterlife' manages to create a hype.

There's a lot of interest surrounding the film's release on May 7th. The film sees Gurinder don the role of director for the first time since the birth of her twins in 2008.

The maverick filmmaker's cast is an assorted mix of Indian and foreign artists. The film has the talented Heroes actor Sendhil Ramamurthy in the lead.

The actor, who epitomizes the tall, dark n handsome notion, was cast without an audition. "I was shocked that Gurinder just called up and offered me the part without an audition, " he says.

Ramamurthy has Goldy Notay alongside him in the film. The British-Indian debutant looks fresh and promising on screen. But the biggest name in the cast has to be Bollywood veteran Shabana Azmi!

She remains an icon of parallel cinema.An avid social activist; she has cut down on her Bollywood projects in the recent past. She was last seen in Onir's Sorry Bhai in 2008.

Fans can't wait to see her dazzle on the silver screen again. She essays the scheming Punjabi mother with aplomb.

The high point of the film is the teaming up of Azmi and Chadha. Chadha is one of the worlds' finest female directors. Both women are accomplished veterans, skilled at their craft.

Audiences are looking forward to the dynamic duo's film. Chadha has claimed it to be her best work till date. It remains to be seen if IAWA lives to the high expectations, but it promises to be an enriching cinematic experience.