Sometimes, the most unfiltered political commentary in the country is scrawled across a public toilet wall. Acclaimed filmmakers Abhishek Chaubey (Udta Punjab, Sonchiriya) and Navdeep Singh (NH10, Manorama Six Feet Under) have officially joined forces to present the critically lauded short film Bhed, Bakri, Bhoot.
The film is set to premiere globally on September 24 at midnight on Anurag Kashyap’s curated short-film YouTube channel, Oh Short Flips. Bhed, Bakri, Bhoot is produced by Ranjan Singh, RG and Mumbai-based filmmaker Shivam Shankar, who has also directed the film.
The short begins with a heartbroken brass band musician writing a bitter message about his lover on a public bathroom wall in a moment of fury. What starts as a private vent quickly spirals into a domino effect: passersby from all walks of life begin adding their own grievances, socio-political anxieties, and systemic frustrations onto the same tiles. Amid this chaotic tapestry of competing voices, nobody pays attention to the deteriorating state of the bathroom itself—until government officials step in.
Talking about the film, Abhishek Chaubey said, “What I loved most about BBB is Shivam’s modern approach to the narrative and the fact that it is so enjoyable, yet so disturbing. I am sure the audience will also like the film as much as I did.”
The film stars Vandana Joshi, Prasanna Bisht, Apeksha Iyer, Naseem Mughal and Rishi Solanki.
For presenter Navdeep Singh, the short’s sharp narrative observational style immediately stood out. “Bhed, Bakri, Bhoot is acutely observed, astutely directed, and insanely relevant to the times we find ourselves in. It’s a wonderful short film that’s both intelligent and wickedly entertaining.”
The film arrives online following an impressive festival run across several international platforms, including the 29th edition of International Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, IFFSA Toronto, Tirana International Film Festival, Roma Short Film Festival, Tokyo International Short Film Festival, Yellowstone International Film Festival, and the Best of India Short Film Festival.
The release also comes following several festival wins, including being the second Best Film at IDSFFK, Best Editing – Tokyo International Short Film Festival, Best Short Film – IIFSA Toronto and Best Indian Short Film – Yellow Stone.
Written and directed by Shankar—an AAFT Film Direction alumnus who previously worked as a writer on a major Netflix series—Bhed, Bakri, Bhoot tackles the culture of opinionation, where confusing noise often drowns out collective responsibility.
“The film is my attempt to look at India without any filters, the everyday politics we live through in society, told through a raw, unguarded gaze,” director Shivam Shankar shared. “I’m deeply grateful to the presenters who’ve championed this film, and to the producers who helped bring it to life. To my producers RG, Ranjan Singh, and also Mann Gera, thank you for believing in this. To all my actors, who trusted me with their craft, and to every artist across departments who gave more than I could have ever asked for, thank you for making the film what it is. I hope it makes the audience look a little closer at the world around them,” he added.
Bhed, Bakri, Bhoot is the third short to be released on Oh Short Flips, following Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane-presented Incognito and Bobby Beauty Parlour, which was presented by Imtiaz Ali and Kashyap.