Private Project

Black and White

A highly trained prisoner invites an army Major to a game of chess. The stakes of this game are rather high and the major must decide whether to play. As their battle of wits unfolds, they attempt to outsmart each other, and with every move, the truth begins to emerge. This is more than just a game—it’s about something far deeper. The film is a gripping thriller that keeps you thinking and on edge until the very last moment.

  • Rohan Naik
    Director
  • Rohan Naik
    Writer
  • Manndar Manohar Jog
    Producer
  • Rohan Naik
    Key Cast
    "Prisoner"
  • Santosh Naik
    Key Cast
    "Major Shergil"
  • Shravan Fondekar
    Key Cast
    "Prison Guard"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English, Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Waves International Film Festivals
    Panaji - Goa
    India
    January 19, 2025
Director Biography - Rohan Naik

Rohan is an independent filmmaker, actor, and storyteller based in India. His work explores intimate human conflicts, often set against the backdrop of larger social or political structures. With a background in performance and music composition for film and theatre, Rohan brings a distinct sensitivity to his directorial style — focusing on nuanced performances, naturalistic soundscapes, and emotionally charged silences.

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Director Statement

Black and White is a film about conversations that are never black and white — about the quiet battles people fight in the name of duty, loyalty, and personal survival. I was drawn to this story because of its emotional silences, loaded pauses, and the unspoken histories that shape people’s lives, especially in conflict zones. As a filmmaker, I’m fascinated by the thin, often invisible line between hero and villain, soldier and victim.
This film uses a minimalist space and a stripped-down narrative to spotlight the weight of history and the consequences of choices made in uniform. The bilingual nature of the film reflects the world I come from, where languages, loyalties, and identities constantly overlap. My hope is that audiences leave questioning the simple binaries we’re taught to believe in — and embrace the complexity of the grey.