The feature film ‘SAMANANTAR’ (The Parallel), won the ‘Best Feature Film’ at the 69th National Film Awards.

Film: SAMANANTAR (The Parallel)

Language – MAITHILI
Production company: ANIRATI FILMS

The feature film ‘SAMANANTAR’ (The Parallel), written, directed, and produced by NIRAJ KUMAR MISHRA, won the ‘Best Feature Film’ award in the Maithili language at the 69th National Film Awards. It's the first directorial debut of Niraj Kumar Mishra, who also wrote the blockbuster film Baaghi 2 in 2018.

ABOUT SAMANANTAR:

A philosophical and supernatural anthology of four hard-hitting stories, each unique in its own way, but all intertwined with the common and universal philosophies of ‘LIFE’ and ‘KARMA’. It explores the response of nature to the bad KARMAs created by human beings. When lies, greed, desire, rage, selfishness, ego, etc. begin to drive our lives to such an extent that some of us become blind and cross all the bounds of conscience, ethics, and morality, an unknown power of nature intervenes mystically as an equaliser.

'SAMANANTAR' means 'the parallel,' and that is what this picture is about metaphorically. When our 'BAD KARMA' reaches its maximum due to our evil and immoral activities, the unknown force of the parallel realm begins to eventuate.

The film addresses major social concerns such as the "extreme psychological impact of unemployment," "insatiable greed and constant lies," "child abuse," and "behavioural irresponsibility as a result of extreme anger." It also targets the mindset and conduct of current generation in small towns and villages, where disregard for our elders is quite rampant.

The film offers a strong message to the contemporary and morally corrupt section of society that that sooner or later, but 'THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM BAD KARMA'.

BIOGRAPHY: WRITER, DIRECTOR & PRODUCER NIRAJ KUMAR MISHRA

Independent Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Creative Director and Showrunner.

Media and entertainment Industry professional with over 21 years of experience in handling multiple verticals across Television, Web & Films. Have done more than 25 shows, which comprises of more than 2000 episodes across all the top

television channels including top ranked non-fiction show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ Season 1 (Indian version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’) to the most famous Indian sitcom ‘Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma’ (Guinness Book record holder) to intense courtroom thriller ‘Adaalat’. Have done many other chartbuster shows across all the leading entertainment channels of India. Recently did a couple of successful web series also for different OTT platforms like VOOT and ZEE5 as a Storywriter and a Showrunner. Have also written and directed award winning short films; ‘Gandhi: The Silent Gun’ is the most famous one.

In 2018, debuted as a commercial film writer, wrote the screenplay of blockbuster feature film, ’Baaghi 2’. Last year in 2021, debuted as multilingual feature film director and producer with 'SAMANANTAR' (aka The Parallel).

DETAILS OF CAST & CREW

Writer, Director & Producer:

NIRAJ KUMAR MISHRA

Cinematographer

ARCHIT MISHRA PULKIT RATHI

Editor

AFZAL SHAIKH

Music

ABHIJIT HEGDE PATIL

Lyrics

RATISH CHANDRA MISHRA

Sound Design

AROON JYOTI SARMAH

Digital Intermediate

SADIK SHAIKH

Key cast:

ANURAG THAKUR
ASHOK KUMAR VERMA NARENDRA KUMAR TUNTUN RATISH CHANDRA MISHRA ABHISHEK BAJPAYEE SHASHWAT ANAND
SUNIL KUMAR SINGH