Brief
Anurag Kashyap and Vasan Bala back short thriller ‘Aakhri Ride’ for Halloween
The short, directed by newcomers Vijesh Rajan and Yashoda Parthasarthy, follows a ride‑share driver on a terrifying night in Mumbai.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Indian filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Vasan Bala are presenting the short thriller “Aakhri Ride,” set over a single Halloween night in Mumbai and slated for worldwide release on Oct. 31 via the YouTube channel Oh Short Flips, Variety reported.
Vijesh Rajan and Yashoda Parthasarthy wrote and directed the film, their first joint effort. The story follows a Mumbai ride‑share driver who reaches a breaking point during one frightening night. The cast is led by Chandan Roy (known for “Panchayat”) and Aamir Dalvi (known for “Kennedy”), with Faisal Malik also appearing.
Kashyap said he had worked with the pair since the “Gangs of Wasseypur” days and praised their visual storytelling, adding he was “quite excited to see the audience’s response” when the short drops on Halloween. Bala described the VFX‑skilled director Vijesh Rajan as a “Wiz Kid” and called joining the project a “no‑brainer.”
The directors said the idea grew from long taxi rides after meetings, noting the social divide between passengers and drivers. They aim to blend horror and comedy to make viewers laugh, feel spooked, and consider the lives of those behind the wheel.
“Aakhri Ride” began its festival run at the Short Film Market Picks at Clermont‑Ferrand and was later selected for genre events including BIFAN in Bucheon, Fantasia International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest. It has screened at Oscar‑ and BAFTA‑qualifying festivals such as the Florida Film Festival, Austin After Dark, and Cannes Indie Shorts. Awards include the Silver Audience Award for best Asian short at Fantasia, best film at the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival, best Indian short at the Indo‑Dubai International Film Festival, and second‑runner‑up at BISFF.
Key facts
- ‘Aakhri Ride’ will release worldwide on Oct. 31 via Oh Short Flips. (variety.com)
- The short is directed by first‑time filmmakers Vijesh Rajan and Yashoda Parthasarthy. (variety.com)
- Cast includes Chandan Roy, Aamir Dalvi and Faisal Malik. (variety.com)
- The film won the Silver Audience Award for best Asian short at Fantasia. (variety.com)
- It has screened at Oscar‑ and BAFTA‑qualifying festivals such as Clermont‑Ferrand and Fantasia. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Anurag Kashyap and Vasan Bala Present Mumbai Cab Thriller ‘Aakhri Ride’ for Halloween Release (EXCLUSIVE)”
