The Underbug
As India is ravaged by sectarian violence on the eve of its Independence Day, two rioters take refuge in an abandoned house. An eerie presence in the house, however, haunts the men to the edge of sanity.
Interview with Director Shujaat Saudagar
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
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 pandemic to tell a story that we believed needed to be told.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The Underbug explores the psyche of men who are turned into tools of hate. Men who are used, abused and weaponised by their political masters, governments or religious leaders, in order to divide men by religion, region, caste and colour. The Underbug is a horror film that deals with the horrors that plague men.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
When the Pandemic hit us, we all were confused, fearful and at a loss for answers. It was the unknown that had attacked us and momentarily it felt like we had all forgotten our biases and joined forces to fight this unseen, unknown entity. Likewise in The Underbug when the two rioters taking shelter in an abandoned house are faced with an unknown entity, they briefly forget their differences and unite in taking on this perceived enemy.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script kept evolving throughout the making of the film. It was a very personal piece for the cast and crew and I wanted to have everyone's point of view on the subject. All perspectives were spoken about and discussed and debated and incorporated into the larger theme of the narrative.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
So far, very positive.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not yet!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The film poses many poignant questions. I hope The Underbug sparks conversation, offers insight into 'Hate Politics' and contributes in some small way towards empathy, courage and love.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Sales agents, buyers, distributors...in fact all of the above. The message is universal and needs to be spread far and wide.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Something that makes people think. We were not meant to hate, we were meant to love, we were meant to live in harmony, we were meant to respect each other as a human race.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why do we love to hate?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Bambai Meri Jaan - web show for Amazon Prime (currently in post-production)
Interview: January 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
The Underbug
As India is ravaged by sectarian violence on the eve of its Independence Day, two rioters take refuge in an abandoned house. An eerie presence in the house, however, haunts the men to the edge of sanity.
Length: 1:08:00
Director: Shujaat Saudagar
Producer: Shujaat Saudagar, Vikesh Bhutani and Aman Mann
Writer: Shujaat Saudagar, Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal
About the writer, director and producer:
SHUJAAT SAUDAGAR is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for directing Rock On 2, and an Amazon Prime Video show Bambai Meri Jaan. In 1999, he mentored under Prahlad Kakkar, also known as the Godfather of Indian advertising. After directing many award-winning advertising campaigns for brands like Pepsi, Unilever, Coca-cola, Nokia, Samsung, Standard Chartered Bank, to name a few, he moved on to direct, Bali, a television film based on Roald Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter. Bali won the best film award at the prestigious Screen Television Awards, 2005, held in Mumbai, India. Shujaat now helms Rabbit Hole Films, his advertising production house and is a co-founding partner at Chalkboard Entertainment with an outlook to create and collaborate with people who share the same vision and passion towards filmmaking.
With an experience of over 14 years in the industry, VIKESH BHUTANI has been an Executive Producer for multiple path-breaking films like Gully Boy, Dil Dhadakne Do, Talaash, Fukrey franchise & Rock On 2! He also co-produced three original series for Amazon - Mirzapur, Made in Heaven, and Inside Edge, under the banner of Excel Entertainment. Stepping into the role of a freelancing EP, Vikesh worked on the Netflix original film Yeh Ballet for Roy Kapur Films. He also worked on Shakun Batra’s Gehraaiyaan produced by Dharma Productions.
Key cast: Ali Fazal, Hussain Dalal
Looking for: sales agents and distributors
Instagram: @theunderbug_film
Hashtags used: #TheUnderbug_Film
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self Funded