Filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Vasan Bala have joined forces to present ‘Aakhri Ride’, a short thriller set in Mumbai that will premiere worldwide on Halloween, 31 October, through Kashyap’s YouTube channel, Oh Short Flips, writes Variety.
Written and directed by debutants Vijesh Rajan and Yashoda Parthasarthy, the film follows a ride-share driver pushed to his limits during a terrifying night in the city. The project blends suspense, horror and comedy while exploring the social divide between passengers and the people who drive them home.
The film stars Chandan Roy and Aamir Dalvi in lead roles, with Faisal Malik appearing in a supporting role. It is produced by Ranjan Singh, Vishesh Agrawal, Rajan EPK and Kashyap, with Navaras Pictures backing the project alongside Flip Films and Plexus Motion Pictures.
Kashyap said he had known Rajan and Parthasarthy since their work on ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and had long admired their storytelling abilities and distinctive visual style.
He welcomed their decision to become writer-directors and said he was looking forward to seeing how audiences respond to their first film when it arrives on Halloween.
Bala also expressed enthusiasm for the project, recalling how filmmaker Srinivas had introduced him to Rajan, whose visual effects skills impressed him. He said the filmmaker also possessed a sensitive and humorous storytelling voice.
Describing the short as sharp, quirky and emotionally engaging, Bala said supporting the directors was an easy decision.
The filmmakers drew inspiration from their experiences travelling home in taxis after late-night meetings. During those journeys, they became increasingly aware of the invisible social boundaries separating passengers from drivers, an observation that helped shape the film’s central idea.
‘Aakhri Ride’ has already travelled through the international festival circuit. It was selected for the Short Film Market Picks programme at Clermont-Ferrand and subsequently screened at genre festivals including Fantasia International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
The film also received recognition at Fantasia, where it won the Silver Audience Award for best Asian short, alongside other festival honours.
Its Halloween release will bring the thriller to a global online audience, offering the debut directors an opportunity to reach viewers beyond the festival circuit.
