Greeshmaant

A promising gay Kathak dancer, secretly suffering from a chronic skin condition, faces the dilemma when asked to perform, revealing his skin to the world, risking his love life and acceptance he longs for.

  • Sagar Mashalkar
    Director
  • Atharva Deshpande
    Writer
  • Grandeur
    Producer
  • Avik Das
    Cinematographer
  • Samarth Bhosale
    Editor
  • Arpan Bain
    Production Sound Mixer
  • Ravi Yadav
    Key Cast
    "Pious"
  • Avenav Mukherjee
    Key Cast
    "Shlok"
  • Keya Chakraborty
    Key Cast
    "Ketaki"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    300,000 INR
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English, Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata, India
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Sagar Mashalkar

I am Sagar Mashalkar. I was born in Ambarnath, Mumbai on 3rd December 1996, after doing a diploma and engineering in Mechanical Engineering with a side-by-side temptation of working in theatre and cinema. I have worked as a playwriter and director for some one-act plays mainly in Marathi Language. I am currently studying direction and producing for EDM from SRFTI, Kolkata.

My debut Hindi short film as a director is Lovebuds (2023). After that, I directed and assisted in a few film school projects. I made a documentary based on extreme sports enthusiasts in Kolkata named Flying Wheels (2024). Recently, I have completed my 2 short film projects Rehaan Speical (2025) and Greeshmaant (2025). My journey as a Filmmaker is nourishing day by day with challenging experiences and regular improvements.

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Director Statement

At its core, this film is about self-acceptance. Pious, a celebrated Kathak dancer, is invited to lead at the Greeshmaant Dance Competition—on the condition that he performs topless. This demand pushes him into confronting his deepest fear, setting off a spiral of thoughts that fracture his inner world.

To capture this descent, I chose to stay close to Pious with intimate close-ups, tracing every flicker of doubt and unease. Macro, vintage, and anamorphic lenses helped us mirror his distorted perception, pulling the audience into his fragile psyche.

Equally, color defines his journey: the contrast between his home and the dance space reflects two conflicting worlds, underscoring the battle between fear, identity, and acceptance.