The film landscape is set to receive an invigorating boost as Pushing Buttons Studios, the blossoming production company helmed by visionaries Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, unveils an ambitious lineup of six eclectic projects, spanning an array of genres and artistic expressions. Their first venture, “Girls Will Be Girls,” directed by Shuchi Talati, has already set the precedence by clinching top honors at the Sundance Film Festival—garnering the Audience Choice Award for Best Film and Best Actor for Preeti Panigrahi.
In the wake of this resounding success, Pushing Buttons Studios is eager to cultivate a rich tapestry of stories that resonate with the studio’s ethos of compelling narrative and unwavering support for burgeoning talent. The dynamic slate ranges from an audacious adult cartoon to a lighthearted musical, a searing satire, a raw documentary, and an imaginative fantasy drama. The diversity in selection underscores the studio’s commitment to pushing the envelope of traditional cinema and creating a hub for innovative and impactful storytelling.
“We are driven by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to bring fresh, diverse narratives to the forefront,” remarked a determined Richa Chadha. “The success of ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ at Sundance has fueled our determination to continue pushing creative boundaries.” Her words ring true as a clarion call to the industry, showcasing her and her partner’s dedication not only as actors but as producers with a mission.
Echoing this sentiment, Ali Fazal expounded, “Pushing Buttons Studios is not just a production house; it’s a platform for artists to collaborate, experiment, and create memorable experiences for audiences. We are excited about the diverse range of projects in our pipeline.” This statement reveals the studio’s mission to transcend the conventional role of a production company and become a beacon for creative collaboration.
The intriguing roster of the indie studio’s upcoming projects is as follows:
1. Girls Will Be Girls (coming of age drama) – A film by Shuchi Talati delves into the complexities of youth through the tale of 16-year-old Mira, whose provocative coming of age is eclipsed by a mother who never had her own chance to mature.
2. Papita (Crime Thriller) – Directed by Akash Bhatia, this gripping narrative follows Porus Bisht, a Mumbai paparazzi with voyeuristic tendencies, whose life spirals into chaos when he captures a notorious celebrity in a compromising moment, reshaping his career and existence.
3. Doggie Stylez (Adult Animation) – Created by Ashutosh Pathak, this satirical venture amusingly critiques modern human foibles through the antics of a society of dogs emulating—and failing to uphold—human values.
4. Pinky Promise (Musical Comedy) – Penned by Amitosh Nagpal, this endearing musical is set in the quaint hillside of Himachal Pradesh. It chronicles the forbidden love between Pinky, a vivacious dancer, and Goldie, a gifted singer from a rival devotional group, weaving a contemporary and cheerful Romeo and Juliet narrative with a hopeful twist.
5. RiAlity (Documentary) – Crafted by Rahul Singh Datta, this personal documentary captures the whirlwind of wedding planning, arduous workloads, and complex relationships, documenting Chadha and Fazal’s own journey with raw intimacy.
6. Miss Palmoliv All Night Cabaret (Fantasy Drama) – Finally, directed by Kamal Swaroop, this fantastical drama takes us on a musical odyssey with Bhavani Singh, a revolutionary celibate outlaw, and Miss Palmolive, a cabaret dancer, through the enchanted realm of Cinemata, where their platonic relationship unfolds to the backdrop of a government threatened by the power of a mere kiss.
With such a panoply of narratives poised to hit the screen, the Indian film landscape is bracing for a seismic shift. Pushing Buttons Studios is on the cusp of revolutionizing storytelling within Hindi cinema, demonstrating that the line between commercial success and artistic integrity not only can be blurred but utterly erased. Chadha and Fazal are manifestly delivering on their promise to offer cinema that both enlightens and entertains, ushering in a new era for film aficionados and creators alike.
