Private Project

Michael

MICHAEL is a psychological short film that takes us into a journey of storytelling itself. Revealing how a writer’s world, both external and internal, can shape, distort and redefine the stories they tell.
In a world filled with noise, conflict, contradiction and confusion, a disillusioned author, on his friends advise, escapes from the chaotic city life to a village in search of tranquility, clarity and inspiration. But instead of peace, he encounters a strange, unsettling tale, one that blurs the lines between memory, imagination and reality.
Through Ravba, the mysterious caretaker of the house, the writer learns of his tragic love story while working in circus- Ravba’s forbidden affair with Jenni, the wife of a circus owner named Michael. When their secret is exposed, a chain of violence and revenge unfolds.
As the lines between Ravba’s memories and the writer’s imagination blur, the story takes on a life of its own. Is it a story that has happened with Ravba or a creative invention or something in between? MICHAEL invites the audience to decide if this is a tale of purely fictional or real or somewhere in between.

  • Raja Pradhan
    Director
  • Dileep Petwe
    Writer
  • Kayapalat Studio
    Producer
  • Suraj Satav
    Key Cast
    "Michael"
  • Ravindra Deodhar
    Key Cast
    "Writer (Lekhak)"
  • Hrishikesh Kanade
    Key Cast
    "Ravba"
  • Sujata Shelatkar
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Shigwan"
  • Shubhada Tikam
    Key Cast
    "Jenni"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Psychological Thriller, Mistry
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    200,000 INR
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Marathi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital MP4
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Raja Pradhan

Raja Pradhan's love for cinema/films and theatre began in an early childhood when films were made in Black and White in India and access to Hollywood film was limited. From an early age, he immersed himself in the world of cinematic performance, taking part in school and college plays and community stage plays. His passion for acting eventually led him to television, where he appeared in various Marathi and Hindi serials, as well as Marathi theatre productions.
Over time, Raja’s creativity expanded from performance to direction. Fascinated by the craft behind the camera, he began exploring storytelling through a directorial lens and passionately studied and analyzed how any film would have been better if it was directed in a different way.
Driven by a desire to tell emotionally resonant and thought-provoking stories, Raja draws inspiration from a wide range of filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan, Yash Chopra, Ram Gopal Varma, Ramesh Sippy, etc. Their work has helped shape his artistic vision, blending layered storytelling with emotional depth and visual style.
As a First-time short film maker and Director of MICHAEL marks an important step in his journey, a film that merges psychological complexity with social commentary, and showcases his evolving voice as both a storyteller and director.

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Director Statement

MICHAEL is a reflection on how the social environment in which we live shapes not only who we are, but the stories/content we create. This short film blurs the line between imagination and reality through the journey of a disillusioned author, who escapes to his friend’s native village in a bid to escape the chaotic city life and hoping to find clarity and inspiration in his literary work, only to uncover or perhaps invent a haunting tale of love, betrayal, and revenge.
As a short filmmaker, the thought behind making Michael is to explore the fragile state of the creative mind when faced with emotional chaos and social surroundings. Is this a story that the writer tells us about a real or a projection of his own inner world? In a time when truth and fiction so often overlap, MICHAEL leaves that question open, inviting the audience to decide for themselves.