FAT or The Reluctant Butcher

FAT’s non-linear narrative structure and disproportionate shot divisions scream out the
horrors of a society trapped in the house-of-mirrors world of today, where everyone is
seeking external validation.
Living with constant angst about assumed ‘fat’, a middle aged actor blames the imagined
‘lard’ around his waist to be the reason why success and fame have eluded him.
He thinks that by scaling fat from the waist, he will have ‘chiselled’ abs which may earn him
the coveted award he desires.

  • Tathagata Chowdhury
    Director
  • Tathagata Chowdhury
    Writer
  • Bandita Chowdhury
    Producer
  • Tathagata Chowdhury
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    53 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • NA
Distribution Information
  • NA
    Distributor
    Country: India
Director Biography - Tathagata Chowdhury

Tathagata Chowdhury is a theatre practitioner and founder of Theatrecian, a platform dedicated to promoting innovative and experimental theatre, with over 25 years of experience.

Tathagata has represented India, showcasing his work at the prestigious South Asian Theatre Festival, Ohio, fostering cultural exchange and artistic collaboration, with a monoact ‘The Mumbai Zoo’, scripted and performed by him.

He was part of the esteemed Theatre Science Project, a unique initiative by Theatre Royal Plymouth and the British Council, to explore the intersection of theatre and science. Tathagata has been invited to speak about India’s Youth Theatre Movement at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival.

Theatrecian was recognized by BBC 4 as the most prolific youth theatre company in the country in 2007.

He has conducted workshops for Theatre in Education project for Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India in collaboration with Padatik in 13 schools across Kolkata. He has conducted workshops at National School of Drama, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of India, as well as prestigious schools and universities.

Through his work, Tathagata aims to push the boundaries of traditional theatre, incorporating fresh perspectives and avant-garde techniques. His contributions to the Indian theatre scene have been significant, inspiring a new generation of theatre
enthusiasts and practitioners.

Tathagata is an IBDP film examiner and an International Baccalaureate Film study facilitator. He has made television commercials and performed across all formats of audio visuals medium, including a feature film and television serials.

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Director Statement

This short film is my statement about our inane and obsessive fear of not having the perfect body.

Without realizing or critically analyzing what a perfect body is, we torture ourselves to achieve a certain external image which is influenced by the media and existing societal norms.