Shoojit Sircar, Vikramaditya Motwane come onboard to present Varun Tandon’s acclaimed short film Thursday Special: “It reminded me of my unreleased film Shoe Bite” : Bollywood News

Filmmakers Shoojit Sircar and Vikramaditya Motwane have come on board as presenters for Thursday Special, a short film by National Award-winning filmmaker Varun Tandon. The film has already garnered attention on the international festival circuit, most notably winning the Most Poetic Film Award, an honour personally selected by Emir Kusturica at the Küstendorf Film Festival 2025.

Shoojit Sircar, Vikramaditya Motwane come onboard to present Varun Tandon's acclaimed short film Thursday Special: "It reminded me of my unreleased film Shoe Bite"

Shoojit Sircar, Vikramaditya Motwane come onboard to present Varun Tandon’s acclaimed short film Thursday Special: “It reminded me of my unreleased film Shoe Bite”Starring Anubha Fatehpuria and Ramakanth Dayama, Thursday Special explores the life of Ram and Shakuntala, an elderly couple connected by years of marriage, a shared affection for food, and a weekly Thursday ritual that forms the emotional core of the narrative. The film is produced by Karan Luthra and written by Tandon, with Krati Tandon serving as co-writer and executive producer. It is set to release on January 29 on the Humans of Cinema YouTube channel.

Shoojit Sircar, known for films such as Piku, Vicky Donor, and October, said the film resonated with him for its understated approach. “Thursday Special really moved me with its simplicity and gentle storytelling,” Sircar said.

He also drew a connection to his own unreleased feature Shoe Bite, starring Amitabh Bachchan. “Varun’s nuanced portrayal of companionship, ageing, and love is heartfelt and mature. It’s a delicately handled take on marriage and middle-age relationships, especially impressive for a young filmmaker and it reminded me, in a way, of my unreleased film Shoe Bite. The storytelling in Thursday Special is clear and sincere, with every department serving the story. Knowing that Varun has made over 15 short films highlighted his passion and dedication, and I felt both he and the film deserved support,” Sircar added.

Vikramaditya Motwane, who has been associated with several notable films and series in contemporary Indian cinema, highlighted how the film focuses on everyday lives that are often overlooked. “When I watched Thursday Special, I was struck by the fact that though all the stories we tell are human stories, we tend to forget that there are so many other stories out there in the mundane, and in the lives of people who you would not expect to have unique stories.”

Shoojit Sircar, Vikramaditya Motwane come onboard to present Varun Tandon's acclaimed short film Thursday Special: "It reminded me of my unreleased film Shoe Bite"

Explaining why he chose to present the film, Motwane said, “I really enjoyed the film. I think people should see it, and they will like it. It’s a film that you can talk about and discuss and not just from an aesthetic perspective. While it’s beautifully directed and performed, it is truly special in terms of pure story, pure feeling.”

For Varun Tandon, whose earlier short Syaahi won a Special Jury Award at the 63rd National Film Awards, Thursday Special represents a long-gestating personal project. “This is a story that has stayed in my heart for years. I was taken over by the sheer excitement and curiosity to see these characters on screen and watch their lives unfold. Thursday Special is a heartfelt portrayal of a couple whose lives revolve around their shared passion for food. Through their weekly tradition, we delve into their world and witness the intricate layers of their relationship,” said Tandon, who has also directed the short documentary Dribbling Dreams.

The film has seen a strong response across international festivals. After its premiere at Mecal Pro in Barcelona, Thursday Special has won over 25 awards worldwide, including Best Narrative Short at the New York Indian Film Festival, Best International Short Film at the Adelaide Independent Film Festival, and Best Narrative Short at the Tryon International Film Festival in the US.

The short film will be available to audiences globally when it releases online later this month.

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