Indian director Anurag Kashyap returns to the children's film genre with his latest production, 'Little Thomas'.
The comedy-drama, which is the directorial debut of Kushal Oza, is set to have its world premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).
The film also stars Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal, along with child actor Hridhansh Parikh, and Little Thomas marks Kashyap's first foray into children's cinema since his 2007 animated directorial venture Hanuman Returns.
Set in Goa in the 1990s, the film follows a seven-year-old boy who tries to reunite his squabbling parents in the hope of having a younger brother. Kashyap, known for powerful films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Ugly, was drawn to Oza's vision of creating a true children's film from a child's perspective.
“Producing an original children’s film is actually a tough genre. So one has to make sure the script is good before producing it,” Kashyap said.
Devaiah, who previously worked with Kashyap in “That Girl in the Yellow Boots” and “The Devil”, described “Little Thomas” as a “sweet and beautiful film”. Duggal praised the screenplay for its “interesting sense of humour” and commitment to the narrative without unnecessary embellishment.
Oza, a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, revealed that over 700 children auditioned to select Thomas and his friends. The film is produced by Kashyap's Luminoso Pictures, Civic Studios, Flip Films and Good Bad Films.
Producer Ranjan Singh of Flip Films, who previously co-produced Oza's short film “The Miniaturist of Junagadh”, said he decided to make “Little Thomas” after reading the script in 2018 and finding it “an authentic children's film”.
Little Thomas also stars Hridayansh Gokani, Ninad Pandith and Mahabanu Modi Kotwal. The film is expected to release in theatres across India after its festival run.
The Indian Film Festival opens on August 15 with an anthology film, “My Melbourne,” directed by Rima Das, Onir, Imtiaz Ali and Kabir Khan, and closes on August 25 with Sundance Award-winning “Girls Will Be Girls,” directed by Shochi Talati.
