Acclaimed Filmmakers Back Varun Tandon’s Award-Winning Short

Acclaimed Indian filmmakers Shoojit Sircar and Vikramaditya Motwane have come together to present Thursday Special, a 26-minute short film by National Award-winning director Varun Tandon that has gained significant attention on the international film festival circuit. The intimate drama explores themes of love, companionship, and the quiet moments that define long-term relationships.

Background

Varun Tandon is no stranger to critical acclaim. His debut short film Syaahi earned him a National Award and established him as a filmmaker with a keen eye for finding depth in everyday moments. Thursday Special represents his continued exploration of human relationships and the spaces between people who share their lives.

The journey to complete Thursday Special was a lengthy one. Tandon first conceived the idea in 2017 and began writing it as a 10-page short story. He initially had no intention of adapting it into a screenplay, but in 2018 decided to make that leap. The process proved more difficult than expected, as much of the original story was written as prose rather than narrative film language.

After writing several drafts, Tandon brought his sister Krati Tandon on board as a co-writer. She provided what he describes as a fresh perspective on the material. The pair continued refining the script through 2019, finally reaching a version they felt satisfied with. Plans to shoot in 2020 were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the delay allowed for additional refinement of the screenplay.

Key Details

The Story and Cast

Thursday Special tells the story of Ram and Shakuntala, a married couple who have been together for 27 years. The couple shares a weekly ritual centered around their mutual love of food. When this long-established tradition is disrupted one day, the walls between their individual worlds collide, forcing them to confront each other in a way they have not done in years.

Casting the film presented its own challenges. Tandon and his team had specific ideas about how the characters should look and required actors capable of delivering nuanced performances. The budget was limited, making the search even more difficult. For the male lead, casting director Amna Mishra eventually suggested Ramakant Dayama, who immediately understood the script and agreed to take the role.

Finding the right actress proved even more challenging. After struggling to find someone who fit their vision, Sarika Singh, an actor from Tandon's earlier film Syaahi, suggested Anubha Fatehpuria. Fatehpuria read the script and understood what the filmmakers were attempting to achieve, becoming what Tandon describes as an amazing choice for the role.

Festival Recognition

Thursday Special has made an impact on the international festival circuit. At the Küstendorf Film Festival in 2025, the film received the award for The Most Poetic Film, presented by celebrated Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica. The film has also been selected for screenings at major festivals, including the Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition.

"We've made this film from our hearts, and I hope people engage with it emotionally. Each person might take something different from it, that's very personal and that's the beauty of art." – Varun Tandon

What This Means

The backing of established filmmakers like Sircar and Motwane signals growing recognition of Tandon's work within the Indian film industry. Sircar, known for films like Piku and Madras Cafe, and Motwane, recognized for works like Udaan and Lootera, bring significant credibility and reach to the project.

Thursday Special represents a particular approach to storytelling that emphasizes subtlety over drama. The film examines how two people can exist in separate worlds within the same relationship for years, yet still find their way back to each other. The disruption of their weekly ritual becomes a moment of reckoning that forces both characters to confront the emotional distance that has developed between them.

Tandon's work explores what he calls the "emotional geography" of relationships. Rather than relying on dramatic confrontation, the film uses quiet moments of truth to convey its message about vulnerability, companionship, and the nature of long-term commitment. This approach appears to have resonated with international audiences and festival juries.

For Tandon, short films have served as a training ground for larger ambitions. He has spoken about how short filmmaking teaches valuable lessons about tight schedules, working with small crews, and the patience required for post-production work. However, he emphasizes that filmmaking for him ultimately comes down to having a story worth telling and the desire to tell it. While he has explored ideas for feature-length films, he remains focused on projects that genuinely compel him creatively.