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Anand Gandhi

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Anand Gandhi
Anand Gandhi in 2011
Born26 September 1980 (1980-09-26) (age 45)
Mumbai, India
OccupationsFilmmaker, Entrepreneur, Writer, Director, Producer, Systems Researcher
Years active2000–present

Anand Gandhi (born Anand Modi, 26 September 1980) is an Indian filmmaker, entrepreneur, media producer, innovator and systems researcher. His debut feature film, Ship of Theseus (2013), premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, won the National Film Award for Best Picture.[1] His second film, Tumbbad (2018), for which he served as creative director, executive producer, and screenwriter, opened the Critics' Week at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.[2] Gandhi is also the founder of Memesys Culture Lab, a new media studio and systems think tank.[3]

In 2017, Gandhi produced An Insignificant Man, a documentary film directed by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla about the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party in India. The film was acquired by Vice for international distribution.[4]

Actor and producer Ajay Devgn bought rights to Gandhi's play Beta Kaagdo. It has been made into the feature film Helicopter Eela, starring Bollywood actress Kajol.[5] Gandhi is also the co-creator of ElseVR, a virtual reality (VR) platform that produces and distributes immersive storytelling experiences.[6] He has produced the board games SHASN and SHASN: Azadi created by Zain Memon.[7]

While on the steering committee of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Gandhi served as the creative director of the new VR chapter of the festival.[8]

Early life

[edit]

Gandhi’s last name was Modi until his mother remarried when he was 15. His last name was updated to Gandhi after he was adopted by his stepfather.[9] He spoke Gujarati for the first ten years of his life, and continues to “fascinated by the language” citing a persisting interest in the poetry of Ramesh Parekh, Mareez, and Shekhadam Abuwala.[10]

During his childhood, Gandhi developed an interest in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and philosophy. He has cited Richard Dawkins and Douglas Adams as early influences.[11]

Gandhi dropped out of college at 18.[12]

Career

[edit]
Anand Gandhi at the Master Class on ′Virtual Reality: The emerging grammar of a new language′, IFFI (2017)

Television, theatre and short films

[edit]

Gandhi's writing career began in 2000 when he wrote dialogue for the first eighty-two episodes of popular daily soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and screenplay for Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, both of which became the longest running shows on Indian Television.[13] The same year, Gandhi's play Sugandhi was awarded the prestigious National Prize. Most of his plays, including Sugandhi, Pratyancha, Kshanotsav, Na, and Janashtaru were written for the alternative one-act theatre.[14] Gandhi has penned one mainstream Gujarati play Chal Reverse Ma Jaiye and produced Grey Elephants In Denmark (2009), a Hinglish play written and directed by Chaitanya Tamhane.[15]

He made his film directorial debut with Right Here, Right Now (2003), a critically acclaimed 30-minute short film that dealt with the idea of cyclic causality and was shot in two continuous takes. The film premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival. His second film Continuum (2006), which he co-wrote and co-directed with Khushboo Ranka, was a montage of simple stories from everyday life, popular culture and folklore that explore "the continuum of life and death, of love and paranoia, of trade and value, of need and invention, of hunger and enlightenment".[14]

Gandhi has also directed numerous brand films. His film, based on the work of Dr Dnyaneshwar Bhosale, 'Vicks: Care Lives On #TouchOfCare' won 4 awards at Spikes Asia Award 2022 - a Silver in Direction[16] and a Bronze in Casting, Script and Cinematography - most by an Indian film in the Film Craft category.[17][18] His previous film for Vicks, titled 'One In a Million', won 4 Cannes Lions in 2019, including a Silver Lion and 3 Bronze Lions for Creative Strategy, Film Craft, and Film Healthcare. The film also won three Silvers at Spikes Asia for Direction, Script, and Casting in the Filmcraft category.[19] Gandhi’s Lifebuoy ‘Help a child reach 5’ campaign won a Bronze Cannes Lion in 2017 for Creative Effectiveness, along with the “Grand Prix” in PR, and “Silver” in Healthcare at Spikes Asia 2016. His film for Gillette "Soldiers can cry" won a shortlist at Cannes 2020. Gandhi is on the jury of the One Show 2022.[20][21]

Ship of Theseus

[edit]

Gandhi’s first feature-length film Ship of Theseus premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was discovered as the "hidden gem" of the festival's selection of films that year.[22] It won the Best Film Award at the Transylvania International Film Festival, Best Cinematography Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, the Jury Prize for Technical Excellence at the Mumbai Film Festival, and Best Actress Award at the Dubai International Film Festival. The title of the film alludes to Theseus' paradox, most notably recorded in Life of Theseus, wherein the Greek historian and philosopher Plutarch inquires whether a ship that has been restored by replacing all its parts remains the same ship.[23]

The film was released in India on 19 July 2013. It was reported to be the highestg rossing international arthouse film at the Indian box office at the time of its release.[24] In 2014, it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film at the 61st National Film Awards.[25]

Following the release of Ship of Theseus, Gandhi distributed Nishtha Jain's documentary film Gulabi Gang through Recyclewala Films. It was among the first documentary films to receive a theatrical distribution in India.[26] The film won the National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues and the National Film Award for Best Editing (Non-Feature Film) at the 61st National Film Awards.[27]

The film's sound design was completed in collaboration with Hungarian sound designer Gábor Erdélyi.[28] It was released theatrically in Australia in November 2013 and was presented by actor Hugo Weaving.[29]

On the seventh anniversary of the release of Ship of Theseus, Gandhi released the poster for his film project Emergence, which is set in a post-pandemic world.[30]

Tumbbad

[edit]

Gandhi directed Tumbbad (2018) alongside Rahi Anil Barve, and was also credited as co-writer, creative director, and executive producer.[31] The film was shot between November 2014 and May 2015 after an earlier 2012 production was restarted.[32][33]

Memesys Culture Lab

[edit]

Towards the end of 2015, Anand founded Memesys Culture Lab with Zain Memon, Khushboo Ranka, Vinay Shukla, Neil Pagedar and Pooja Shetty. After early work in virtual reality (VR) journalism, the lab launched six VR documentaries on ElseVR, a VR journalism platform. Gandhi and team commissioned documentary filmmakers to capture "extraordinary and urgent stories" in VR, accompanied by a piece of long-form journalism. Author Shubhangi Swarup served as executive editor.

The VR documentaries available on the ElseVR platform are:

The ElseVR team also created two behind-the-scenes documentaries, Dhaakad and Inside Dangal, on the making of Aamir Khan's Dangal. For ElseVR, Memesys partnered with Amnesty International India, Oxfam India and United Nations Virtual Reality (UNVR) and BBC.

On 11 September 2016, Anand's documentary production An Insignificant Man had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was also screened at the BFI London Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival.

Directed by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla, An Insignificant Man was released in theatres in India on 17 November 2017. The film was released in more than 33 screens across India and continued to perform well into its third and fourth weeks. The box office net of 12 million INR makes it the most successful documentary feature out of India. The film, which chronicles the rise of anti-corruption protests in India and the formation and rise to power of the Aam Aadmi Party, received standing ovations in theatres and was picked up by VICE Media.[34]

Gandhi has also completed development on three projects – Ok Computer, New Aesop's Fables and Some of All Pasts. Australian actor Hugo Weaving may be roped in to play one of the parts.[35]

Anand's play Beta Kaagdo, which he adapted into a screenplay along with Mitesh Shah, is being made into a feature film with Kajol in lead. The film is being directed by Pradeep Sarkar and produced by Ajay Devgn.[5]

Talks and engagements

[edit]

Gandhi was selected for the INK Fellowship which comprised "around 25 young change-makers from across disciplines like art, science, social concerns, sport and technology, who they believe will be game-changers in their respective fields".[36]

Anand was a speaker at the Singularity University (SingularityU) Forum in India, where he shared his ideas on using insights from cognitive science in narrative structures. The summit also featured talks by Peter Diamandis, Rob Nail, Neil Jacobstein, and Stefan Sagmeister, among others.[37]

Gandhi is also the recipient of the Rajeev Circle Fellowship, designed to "identify and empower young entrepreneurs".[38]

Gandhi moderated a masterclass at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 on the future of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).[39]

Gandhi was invited by the I&B Ministry to lead the VR chapter of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), 2017 held in Goa. He delivered a masterclass on VR as the new medium to "preserve records and memories for posterity".[8]

Filmography

[edit]

Short films

[edit]
YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2003Right Here, Right Now YesYesYes Syracuse International Film Festival – Best Film (International Short)[40]
Shnit International Short-Film Festival – Best Film (Audience Choice Award)[40]
Mocha Film Club – Best Film
2006Continuum YesYesExecutive Hanover Up and Coming Film Festival – Film Comet[40]
2014 Newborns Yes Documentary
2016 When All Land Is Lost, Do We Eat Coal? Executive
Right to Pray Executive
2017 Caste is Not a Rumour Executive
Submerged Executive
Yeh Ballet Executive
When Borders Move Executive
2018 Tailored Yes
2019 Wintergreen Yes

Feature films

[edit]
YearFilmContributionAwards/Notes
2013Ship of TheseusDirector / Writer / ProducerNational Film Awards – Best Film
Hong Kong International Film Festival – SIGNIS Award (Special Mention)
London International Film Festival – Sutherland Award (Special Mention)
Screen Weekly Awards – Jury Prize
Transylvania International Film Festival – Best Film
Sakhalin Film Festival – Grand Prix
Mumbai Film Festival – Jury Prize for Technical Excellence
Tokyo International Film Festival – Best Artistic Contribution Award
2017An Insignificant ManProducerToronto International Film Festival

BFI London Film Festival Busan International Film Festival

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam Warsaw International Film Festival - Best Documentary

New York Indian Film Festival Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles

Brooklyn Film Festival Sheffield Doc/Fest

AFI Docs Copenhagen International Documentary Festival

International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights

Directed by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla

2018 Helicopter Eela Co-Writer Directed by Pradeep Sarkar
2018TumbbadDirector/ Co-writer / Creative Director / Executive ProducerCinemAsia Film Festival

Filmfare Awards[41]

International Indian Film Academy Awards[42]

Directed alongside Rahi Anil Barve

Television

[edit]
YearTitleCreatorWriterProducer
2000-2002
 Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Yes
2000
 Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii Yes
2021
 OK Computer Yes(Co-writer)[43] Yes

Awards and recognition

[edit]

In 2013, Gandhi was selected as an INK Fellow, a programme recognizing individuals for their contributions and innovation[44] and received the Contribution to Jain Philosophy Prize from the University of Mumbai.[45]

In 2013, Ship of Theseus won the Transilvania Trophy (Best Film) at the Transilvania International Film Festival,[46][47] the film subsequently won the Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) for Best Feature Film at the 61st National Film Awards.[48] It later received the SIGNIS Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.[49]

In 2017, An Insignificant Man won the Best Documentary award at the Warsaw International Film Festival,[50] while Tumbbad received the Best Film – Focus Asia award at the 2018 Sitges Film Festival[51] and the Vicious Cat Award for Best Feature Film at the 2019 Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival.[52] In 2022, Gandhi served on the jury of The One Show, an international awards programme.[53]

Personal life

[edit]

Gandhi writes Gujarati poetry but does not publish it.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Kiran's Theseus Crusade". The Telegraph. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Anand Gandhi on creating an epic horror allegory in Tumbbad". Mid-Day. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Bhutia, Lhendup G. (6 April 2016). "Virtual Reality: The Illusionists". Open Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (13 October 2017). "Vice picks up 'An Insignificant Man'". Variety. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Anand Gandhi: Excited about my next starring Kajol". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "It's 360 degrees virtual reality show". The Times of India. 14 March 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Anand Gandhi announces new board game Azadi, designed by Zain Memon". Firstpost (in fp-IN). 8 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  8. 1 2 "Anand Gandhi inspires students during Virtual Reality master class at IFFI 2017". A Potpourri of Vestiges. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "Shut Up Ya Kunal - Episode 15 : Anubhav Sinha & Anand Gandhi". Kunal Kamra. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Gujarati poetry meets Greek paradox". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  11. ↑ Homegrown. "An Interview With Anand Gandhi". homegrown.co.in. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  12. ↑ newslaundry (30 August 2013). NL Interviews Anand Gandhi – via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "Kiran's Theseus Crusade". The Telegraph. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Anand Gandhi turns filmmaker with "Theseus's Ship"". The Hindu. PTI. 2 April 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Ramnath, Nandini. "Meet the 27-year-old director whose debut swept the Mumbai Film Festival". Scroll.in. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  16. ↑ "Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity". Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  17. ↑ "Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity". Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  18. ↑ "Announcing the 2022 Spikes Asia Awards winners". PhuketTimes. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  19. ↑ "P&G's One in a Million only campaign to win 4 Lions at Cannes 2019". www.adgully.com. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. ↑ "Anand Gandhi joins 'The One Show 2022' jury panel - Times of India". The Times of India. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "Anand Gandhi's brand film for Vicks wins big at Creative Circle Gong Awards, Singapore". Indian Television Dot Com. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  22. ↑ Wadera, Guneet (30 August 2012). "Ship of Theseus - Cameron Baileys hidden gem from Mumbai". Filmicafe. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Q&A: 'Ship of Theseus' Director Anand Gandhi". The Wall Street Journal blogs. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  24. ↑ Bhushan, Nyay (17 April 2014). "'Ship of Theseus' Wins Top Prize at India's National Film Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "61st National Film Awards: 'Shahid' wins two top awards, 'Ship of Theseus' best film". The Indian Express. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Real on Reel". The Indian Express. 21 February 2014.
  27. ↑ "61st National Film Awards: Complete list of winners - News18". News18.
  28. ↑ "Ship of Theseus triumphs at Transilvania". Screen Daily.
  29. ↑ "Hugo Weaving to present Ship of Theseus in Australia". The Times of India. 16 October 2013.
  30. ↑ "Wanted To Make An Accurate Science Fiction: Anand Gandhi On Upcoming Film 'Emergence'". outlookindia.com/. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  31. ↑ "Ship of Theseus director Anand Gandhi reveals he directed Tumbbad, not Rahi Anil Barve: 'I scrapped what had been shot, reshot it'". Indianexpress. 22 July 2025.
  32. ↑ Gupta, Rachit (4 October 2018). "Sohum Shah, director Rahi Anil Barve and Adesh Prasad narrate the journey of 'Tumbbad'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  33. ↑ "Anand Gandhi announces horror film 'Wildebeest' on three year anniversary of 'Tumbbad'". timesofindia.
  34. ↑ "Standing Ovations Pouring In For Non-Fiction-Thriller 'An Insignificant Man'". Business of Cinema. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  35. ↑ "Anand Gandhi set to launch India s first mega virtual reality lab". mid-day. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  36. ↑ "Google to support INK Fellows Programme". The Economic Times. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  37. ↑ Amiruddin, Zahra (26 February 2016). "Anand Gandhi with SingularityU". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  38. ↑ "Sightings: Jitish Kallat in Conversation with Anand Gandhi". insider.in. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  39. ↑ "Agenda". ges2017.org. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  40. 1 2 3 Jaskiran Kapoor (22 March 2010). "Sea change". Indian Express. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  41. ↑ "Winners of the Filmfare Awards 2019". Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  42. ↑ "Complete list of winners of IIFA Awards 2019". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  43. ↑ "Vijay Varma on Ok Computer: 'The biggest victory for us is a show like this is being made in India'". The Indian Express. 25 March 2021.
  44. ↑ "Google to support INK Fellows Programme". The Economic Times. 22 October 2013. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  45. ↑ "20th Annual Life OK Screen Awards: Winners". The Indian Express. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  46. ↑ "Anand Gandhi's "Ship of Theseus" Wins Transilvania Trophy". Nine O'Clock. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  47. ↑ "Indian features take top prizes at Transilvania Film Festival". Screen Daily. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  48. ↑ "61st National Film Awards: 'Shahid' wins two top awards, 'Ship of Theseus' best film". The Indian Express. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "Bloom Wins Big at Hong Kong Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  50. ↑ "An Insignificant Man: Five reasons to watch this Arvind Kejriwal documentary". The Indian Express. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "Tumbbad's Pankaj Kumar wins Best Cinematography award at Sitges Festival". Cinestaan. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  52. ↑ "15th Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival – Award Winners". Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  53. ↑ "Anand Gandhi joins The One Show 2022 jury panel". The Times of India. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
[edit]
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