Debutant director Rishav Kapoor’s highly anticipated short film, “Next, Please,” written and produced by the acclaimed Chaitanya Tamhane, is set to make waves with its world premiere at the prestigious MAMI 2023 film festival. The film explores modern dating in virtual reality, where a woman embarks on a quest for love and finds herself transported to a 1950s ‘aunty bar’.
Starring Jim Sarbh, Shreya Dhanwanthary, and Shardul Bhardwaj, “Next, Please” is Chaitanya Tamhane’s first-ever live-action project as a writer-producer. An extremely topical film that deals with the complexities of modern relationships and virtual dating, “Next, Please” seems set to become a festival favourite.
Director Rishav Kapoor states, “Bringing a Chaitanya Tamhane screenplay to life was an immensely exciting opportunity. It’s an ambitious story of love and cynicism that straddles both historical and futuristic worlds. We’ve really endeavoured to break new ground with this.”
The film’s soundtrack features a hidden gem – an unreleased Madan Mohan song titled “Kadamon Mein Tere Aaye Sanam,” beautifully sung by the legendary Mohammad Rafi. Originally composed for a film produced by Rishav Kapoor’s great-grandfather Trilok Kapoor, the tapes of this iconic composition lay dormant for years. Madan Mohan’s son, Sanjeev Kohli, took on the painstaking task of restoration. The song, which effortlessly transports audiences to the enchanting world of the 1950s, perfectly complements the film’s narrative. Notably, this release marks the first original Madan Mohan composition since “Veer-Zaara” in 2004.
“Next, Please” premieres in the ‘Large Short Films’ category backed by Royal Stag’s ‘Barrel Select’. One of MAMI 2023’s most promising films, it premieres at 1pm on November 2nd and PVR Maison, Jio World Drive BKC.