Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Niharika Sahni Music Producer: Ankit Deepak Tiwari Cast: Vithal Chadha, Akashdeep Singh, Avyaana Sha...
Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Niharika Sahni
Music Producer: Ankit Deepak Tiwari
Cast: Vithal Chadha, Akashdeep Singh, Avyaana Sharma
The young filmmaker Niharika Sahni makes her
feature directorial debut with Aatmaram Live, released this week in select
theatres. The film boldly explores the obsession of today’s youth with social
media fame—an area mainstream filmmakers have often avoided. It highlights how
the desire to become an overnight “superstar” drives individuals to unexpected
extremes.
Story:
The narrative follows a struggling social media
influencer who arrives in a big city from a small village, dreaming of fame and
virality. His father enrolled him in a B.Tech program hoping he would build a
stable career, but the young man has his sights set firmly on social media
stardom. He shares a tiny rented room in the city and collaborates with a local
vendor’s son—a jovial Sikh boy—yet every attempt they make at creating content
fails miserably.
Things take a turn when his friend’s grandfather
passes away, and the duo visit the cremation ground for the final rites. There,
the influencer gets the idea to shoot horror videos using the cremation site as
the backdrop. While filming, his foot accidentally lands on a burning pyre’s
ashes, and some residue gets stuck in his boot.
This moment triggers a chain of comic and eerie
events. The two friends begin to experience bizarre happenings, even as their
horror videos suddenly go viral overnight. Unknowingly, they bring back the
presence of an “Aatmaram,” whose influence begins to disrupt their lives. In
the chaos, a young woman named Vaishnavi—already grieving her grandmother’s
death—finds herself pulled into the supernatural whirlpool.
Direction & Presentation:
As a debutante, Niharika Sahni deserves praise for
attempting a fresh concept with limited resources and an entirely new cast.
Taking such a risk is not easy, especially when commercial success is not
guaranteed with unfamiliar faces.
The film offers sharp commentary on the modern-day
obsession with online presence and the compulsive need to stay connected.
Several dialogues evoke laughter, while others provoke thought.
The horror-comedy treatment resembles the popular
Stree franchise—balancing scares with humour rooted in Indian cultural rituals
and beliefs.
The film starts off a bit slow, but post-interval
it gains considerable momentum and holds the audience’s attention right until
the climax.
Final Verdict:
Aatmaram Live is a refreshing, experimental attempt
that combines horror, humour, and social satire. Despite its modest scale and
new cast, the film manages to make an impact through its strong concept and
engaging treatment.
The makers are also preparing for an international
release, which could give this unique story a wider audience.
Overall—A quirky, entertaining mix of horror,
comedy, and social media satire. Worth a watch.
No comments