Renowned Indian filmmakers Shoojit Sircar and Vikramaditya Motwane have joined forces to screen ‘Thursday Special’, a short film by Indian National Award winner Varun Tandon, which received great acclaim at international film festivals.
This intimate drama, which explores themes such as love, companionship and the passage of time, recently won the Most Poetic Film Award at the Küstendorf Film Festival 2025 in Serbia. This honor was personally chosen by the famous director Emir Kusturica.
“Thursday Special” stars Anubha Fatepuria and Ramakanth Dayama as Ram and Shakuntala, an elderly couple whose relationship is fueled by a mutual passion for food and a weekly Thursday tradition. Produced by Karan Luthra, Tandon will write the screenplay along with co-writer and executive producer Kulati Tandon.
Director Sarkar, whose directorial credits include ‘Piku’, ‘Vicky Donor’ and ‘October’, praised the film’s low-key approach. “Thursday Special really touched me with its simplicity and gentle storytelling,” he said, comparing it to his unreleased feature film “Shoe Bite” starring Amitabh Bachchan.
“Varun’s nuanced portrayal of friendship, aging and love is heartfelt and mature. It’s a sensitive treatment of marriage and mid-life relationships, which is particularly impressive for a young filmmaker and in some ways reminded me of my unreleased film ‘Shoe Bites’,” Sircar added. “The storytelling in ‘Thursday Special’ is clear and honest, with every department contributing to the story. Knowing that Varun has made over 15 short films highlights his passion and dedication and felt that both he and the film deserved to be supported.”
Director Motwane, who is known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary Indian cinema, emphasized that the film focuses on overlooked stories. “When I watched ‘Thursday Special,’ I was struck by the fact that even though all the stories we tell are human stories, we often forget that there are so many other stories in everyday life and in the lives of people you wouldn’t expect to have a unique story,” he said.
“I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone should see it and I’m sure they’ll like it. It’s not just an aesthetic movie, it’s a conversational movie. It’s beautifully directed and directed, but it’s really special because of the pure story, the pure emotion,” added Motwane.
For Tandon, whose short film Syaahi won the Special Jury Award at the Indian National Film Awards, the project represents a long-awaited creative vision. “This is a story that has stayed with me for years. I was overcome with pure excitement and curiosity to see these characters on screen and watch their lives unfold,” said the filmmaker, who also directed the short documentary “Dribbling Dreams.”
“The Thursday special is a heartfelt portrayal of a couple whose lives revolve around a shared passion for food. Through their weekly traditions, we delve into their world and witness the intricate layers of their relationship,” Tandon added.
The short premiered at Mecal Pro in Barcelona and has since won over 25 awards at festivals worldwide. Notable awards include Best Narrative Short Film at the New York Indian Film Festival, Best International Short Film at the Adelaide Independent Film Festival, and Best Narrative Short Film at the Tryon International Film Festival.
The film is scheduled to be released on January 29th via the Humans of Cinema YouTube channel.
