Anand Gandhi
Anand Gandhi (born 26 September 1980) is a critically acclaimed Indian filmmaker, producer, media entrepreneur, and thinker whose work spans feature films, documentary production, television writing, immersive media, and systems research. Gandhi’s oeuvre is characterised by an interplay of philosophical inquiry, narrative innovation, and cultural critique, contributing to the emergence of a distinctive voice in contemporary Indian cinema and transmedia practice. His first feature, Ship of Theseus (2012), has been recognized as a landmark in Indian independent filmmaking, while his subsequent work in genre cinema, documentary production, and narrative worlds has expanded the scope and resonance of South Asian storytelling on global platforms.
Life and Early Work
Born in Mumbai, Gandhi’s creative trajectory began in his youth with an engagement in theatre and writing, activities that presaged his later philosophical orientation to storytelling. At a remarkably early age, he contributed as a writer to some of India’s most watched television soap operas, including Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, establishing a foundation in narrative construction and popular media.
His early theatrical work, exemplified by plays such as Sugandhi—which won the National Prize—further positioned him within alternative theatre circuits that valued intellectual rigor and experimental form.
Gandhi’s formal explorations extended into film with Right Here, Right Now (2003), a short film that interrogates cyclic causality and debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. This was followed by Continuum (2006), co-directed with Khushboo Ranka, which juxtaposed quotidian anecdotes with philosophical motifs. These formative works reflect Gandhi’s commitment to blending intellectual inquiry with cinematic form, an approach that would shape his later feature-length projects.
Filmmaking
Gandhi’s breakthrough arrived with Ship of Theseus (2012), a feature film that examines identity, ethics, and transformation through interlinked narratives. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and garnered the National Award for Best Picture, drawing international festival recognition for its innovative structure and thematic depth.
Gandhi’s subsequent role as co-writer, creative director, and executive producer of Tumbbad (2018)—a period horror fantasy set in early 20th-century India—further demonstrated his capacity to expand genre conventions within Indian cinema. Tumbbad premiered in Critics’ Week at the Venice International Film Festival, signaling the global appeal of his collaborative and genre-bending initiatives.
Alongside his feature work, Gandhi produced the socio-political documentary An Insignificant Man (2016), which achieved wide international festival circulation and contributed to documentary filmmaking in South Asia.
Beyond traditional cinema, Gandhi has engaged with transmedia and immersive practices. He founded Memesys Culture Lab, a creative studio exploring narrative innovation and systems thinking, and has developed internationally played board games such as Shasn and Shasn: Azadi, as well as VR journalism platforms and scripted series including OK Computer for Indian and global audiences.
Across these varied media, Gandhi’s work consistently interrogates cultural, philosophical, and systemic dimensions of human experience.
Anand Gandhi on Art House Cinema
