Hindi
Shujaat Saudagar’s “The Underbug” honored at Slamdance Film Festival
Mumbai: “The Underbug” is a Hindi feature film written and directed by Shujaat Saudagar, and produced by Vikesh Bhutani and Aman Mann (producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary “All That Breathes”). The film garnered tremendous recognition as it was awarded the prestigious 2023 Slamdance Breakouts Feature Grand Jury Prize.
The esteemed Slamdance Film Festival Awards ceremony took place on 21 January 2023, in Park City, Utah. The selection process involved a distinguished panel of jurors who screened the film at the award show and played a crucial role in determining the winners.
“The Underbug” is an experimental film made during the first lockdown. “It is a psychological horror film where I wanted to explore the psyche of men who are turned into tools of hate. Men who live on the fringe of society, used, abused and weaponized by their political masters, by governments, by religious leaders to divide man by religion, by region, by colour. By altering the social fabric for the personal and political ambitions of a select few.” said the writer and director, Shujaat Saudagar.
Vikesh Bhutani, the producer of “The Underbug,” expressed his thoughts, stating, “We got a great opportunity to take our film to an international platform and were overwhelmed by the heartwarming response. The themes may have stemmed from India but resonated with the many nationalities attending the film festival.”
The director and writer of the film, Shujaat Saudagar took a moment to reflect on his creative journey, stating, “The Underbug was born out of troubled times, it was difficult coping with an unseen entity, the Pandemic, the coronavirus. A bunch of us came together during the peak of the pandemic to tell a story that we believed needed to be told. And momentarily the world united against this unknown enemy. And I wondered, is this what it takes to bring us together?”
In addition to its recognition at the Slamdance Film Festival, “The Underbug” received nominations at The Moscow Film Festival – Wild Nights, Toronto Lift Off Film Festival, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, further underscoring its acclaim and recognition.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
