Horror Favourites – Sudeep Kanwal

Privacy is a social thriller set in and out of Mumbai slums. It follows the story of Roopali, who works at the Mumbai surveillance command and control center as an operator. While being ambitious, she constantly fights her own guilt and resists her dark past. Things start to get complicated when Roopali ignores protocol and begins to investigate a robbery/murder that takes place on her watch.

Privacy presents a harsh reality of video surveillance in urban centers, and how important is it to have personal privacy. Through its hyperrealistic approach, and dark tone, the film takes the neo-noir approach to explore the themes of mental health, voyeurism, and access to information.

“The access to personal data by big corporations should be a topic of concern. Yet, we don’t hear much about it. There are no strict regulations against collection of data. Even though the film is based around a CCTV control room. The theme of losing privacy to technology is similar to what’s happening to all of us on a daily basis. I hope the film can make the viewer aware of privacy issues that surround us,” says director Sudeep Kanwal.

Filmed entirely in Mumbai, the visual world of Privacy is related to the city’s diverse and contrasting social-economic classes.

“I have always been fascinated with the concept of surveillance. From the Peeping Tom concept of Rear Window, to the eavesdropping world of The Conversation, or the modern micro surveillance depicted in Snowden, it just shows how interested we are in the lives of other people. But, the important question is how much access to someone’s private life is okay? Should an institution have unlimited access to personal information? Wouldn’t that lead to an Orwellian dystopia?” concludes the director.

Produced by Fundamental Pictures in association with House of Talent Studio, Privacy stars Rajshri Deshpande known for her leading role in Netflix India’s Hit “Trial by Fire”.

Rajshri is surrounded by an all-star Indian cast including, Nishank Verma, and Sandesh Kulkarni. The producers are Shlok Sharma and Navin Shetty. The executive producer is Ranjit Gugle. Cinematography by Harshvardhan Wagdhare. Score by Samyuktha Narendran.

Sudeep Kanwal is a NY-based filmmaker who was born and, for the most part, raised in India. He graduated from City College of New York with an MFA in film, specializing in writing & directing fiction.

His short film, ‘Silent Wave’ played at 23 film festivals across the United States. It won numerous awards and nominations. His next short, ‘Dhund’ premiered at the 2018 Mumbai Film Festival as a winner of the Perfect 10 category. His first feature, ‘Privacy’, is co-produced by Mumbai-based art house studio, Fundamental Pictures.

Below Sudeep talks about his favorite scary movie:

“One of the best memories of growing up in India was to rent a VCR for a day and binge-watch 5-6 movies with my siblings and cousins. Along with B-grade Hindi horror films, we watched Sam Raimi’s first two Evil Dead films, and The Exorcist. As an 8-year-old, there was nothing scarier or exciting than watching horror flicks. We could enjoy these films without understanding any of the dialogue, such was the power of the extremely visual genre.

By the time I got into film school, I was more into psychological horror. The twisted human mental condition is far scarier than any ghost or demon. Films such as Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining, and Seven became some of my favorite films of all time. I also really enjoyed more independent films such as Session 9 and The Invitation (2015).

The modern classics Get Out, Hereditary and The Lighthouse are so original and amazing. But If I must pick one film as my favorite, it has to be The Silence of the Lambs. The film beautifully blends thriller & horror elements. It gave us one of the most memorable and scariest movie villains of all time. On top of that the film deals with childhood trauma, sexism, and cannibalism. What more can you ask from a film?”

Privacy is presently available for worldwide sales and distribution rights.