Hindi
Drishyam Films presents an unconventional psychological thriller Tamso
Mumbai: The spotlight is set to shine on the captivating world of horror as Drishyam Film’s Tamso also called Suburban Tales, makes its highly anticipated debut at the prestigious Fantastic Fest in USA. Directed by Stephen Alexander, the film is produced by Rashmi Somvanshi (July Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd.) and presented by Drishyam Films, which has earlier given us masterpieces like Aankho Dekhi, Masaan, Dhanak, Newton that have been internationally recognised at renowned film festivals like Cannes and Berlin.
It is a proud moment for the cast and crew of Tamso as Austin King, features programmer and head of Submissions at the Fantastic Fest, rightly compares the film’s compelling cinematic endeavour with Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis. “What if Kafka’s The Metamorphosis was an Indian werewolf movie?”, says King as he reviews the plot that promises to redefine the genre by blending spine-chilling elements with a deeply personal narrative.
Tamso, meaning ‘from darkness’, derived from Sanskrit, delves into the depths of the human psyche within the backdrop of a family wedding. The estranged daughter, Radhika, portrayed by Rashmi Somvanshi, is compelled to return home, only to be confronted with an unforeseen twist. The youngest family member, Deepu, is taken over by an enigmatic entity during the wedding preparations. As the family grapples with the inexplicable possession, secrets buried within the family’s history resurface, causing an unsettling cascade of events. As reality merges with fantasy, Radhika embarks on a journey to confront her past and unearth the darkness that has long haunted her family.
Actor and producer of the film Rashmi Somvanshi says: “With its compelling narrative, impeccable direction, and thought-provoking theme, Tamso stands poised to redefine the horror genre, offering audiences a glimpse into the unexplored realms of fear and human psychology. We’re honoured to get the film premiered at the prestigious Fantastic Fest. We do hope it is liked by all. For those interested in out of the box content, this is a must watch. This movie has carefully woven a narrative that challenges traditional horror norms, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. I’m sure the audience will like it and I can’t wait to get their views.”
The movie has an ensemble cast featuring Rashmi Somvanshi, Ritika Gupta, Vaishnavi Singh, Ansh Pandey, Dev Chauhan, Sunita Hooda, and Kaushlendra. The screenplay, dialogues, and story have been meticulously crafted by Stephen Alexander and Rashmi Somvanshi.
Director Stephen Alexander, a debutant director in the realm of filmmaking, explores the blurred boundaries between the supernatural and human psychology in this psychological thriller.
As Tamso makes its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, it finds itself in the heart of the largest genre film festival in the USA. Celebrating cinematic excellence that pushes boundaries, Fantastic Fest provides the perfect platform for this unconventional horror experience. It is a paramount event in the cinematic world, renowned for its significant impact on the movie industry. With a resolute focus on groundbreaking genre films encompassing horror, science fiction, fantasy, and more, the festival stands as a pivotal platform that celebrates audacious storytelling and fosters a dynamic community of filmmakers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals. Smile, Blood Relative, The Menu, Living With Chucky are some of the prominent movies which have been screened at the Fantastic Fest.
Hindi
Remembering Gyan Sahay, the lens behind film, television and advertising
From a puppet rabbit selling poppadums to Hindi cinema, he framed it all.
MUMBAI: There are careers, and then there are canvases. Gyan Sahay, the veteran cinematographer, director, and producer who passed away on 10 March 2026 in Mumbai, had one of the latter. Over several decades in the Indian film and television industry, he turned lenses, lights, and the occasional puppet rabbit into something approaching art.
A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Sahay built his reputation as a director of photography across a career that stretched from the early 1970s all the way to the digital age. He was the kind of craftsman who understood that a well-composed shot is not merely a technical achievement but a quiet act of storytelling.
For most Indians of a certain age, however, Sahay will forever be the man behind the rabbit. His direction of the iconic long-running television commercial for Lijjat Papad, featuring its now-legendary puppet bunny, gave the country one of its most cheerfully persistent advertising images. It was the sort of work that sneaks into the national subconscious and takes up permanent residence.
His big-screen credits as cinematographer include Anokhi Pehchan (1972), Pagli (1974), Pas de Deux (1981), and Hum Farishte Nahin (1988). In 1999, he stepped behind a different kind of camera altogether, making his directorial debut with Sar Ankhon Par, a drama that featured Vikas Bhalla and Shruti Ulfat, with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan for good measure.
On television, Sahay was particularly prized for his command of multi-camera production setups, a skill that made him a go-to technician for large-scale shows and reality programmes. In an industry that has never been especially patient with complexity, he was the calm hand on the rig.
In later life, Sahay turned teacher. He participated regularly in masterclasses and Digi-Talks, often hosted by organisations such as Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna, sharing hard-won wisdom on cinematography, the comedy of timing in a shot, and the sweeping changes brought by the shift from celluloid to digital. He was also said to have been involved in a project concerning a biographical film on Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
Tributes from the film industry poured in following the news of his passing, with colleagues remembering him as a senior cameraman who served as a rare bridge between two entirely different eras of Indian cinema. That is, perhaps, the finest thing one can say of any craftsman: he kept up, and he brought others along with him.
