The first look of the forthcoming rural horror film Kheti has been dropped; all are cast here together (Jackie Shroff, Sharad Kelkar, Neha Sargam). This feature tells a story from a haunted village, one steeped in folklore, fear and one that is a tragedy of mankind, and thanks to its authorship (and direction) Haris Imtiyaz Khan, it promises even more of an exciting journey.
Made by Sana Khan under the name of BlackCanvas Studio, Kheti is already generating buzz with its very original premise and a strong cast. The film’s atmospheric feel will be heavily influenced by its rural setting.
Horror based in rural areas heavily relies on themes of isolation, superstition, and generational differences, so Kheti is a fantastic addition to the genre. And Jackie Shroff’s intimidating performance as head of the cast and Sharad Kelkar’s range are sure to pucker an audience up and draw out that tension as one of the main forces driving things on through the film. A third, old guard stars Virendra Saxena and Shaji Choudhary, with experienced performers will be stars in the lead trio and are set to star in key parts.
Their participation makes for depth in the story as far as star power is concerned, they give the film great scale and complexity; at the same time, it will always have to do with character-driven storytelling. Neha Sargam also adds a few other faces to the cast in a variety of performances; she also provides depth, even enriching the cast with a new dimension in Neha Sargam as well.
The discovery of the first look has created fascination, though its storyline has been kept in the dark. This calculated opacity has made us hungry to see how Kheti weds the rural/supernatural together. What we have to know so they didn't mention much but the movie's creative team seems to confirm that that much will be brought out quite soon, providing insights into its storyline and its schedule. On the global stage, Indian cinema is dabbling in a million different genres, and Kheti has emerged and reestablished itself as a daring new paradigm for rural cinema.
The cast, ideas, and environment are perfect to dominate the growing Indian horror space. The film’s first look hints at what might end up being one of the genre’s most intriguing features of the year.
