Experiencing Interruptions?

Squat N Stool

Ria is determined to make a great first impression when she visits her boyfriend Ben’s parents. But in the unfamiliar comfort of their pristine home, she finds herself grappling with a deeply private physical challenge—one she’s always managed quietly, until now.

As the days pass, discomfort gives way to desperation. With no easy solution in sight, Ria resorts to a series of increasingly inventive attempts to regain control, each one bringing her closer to being discovered. Meanwhile, Ben’s observant father begins to sense that something isn’t quite right.

Blending situational comedy with lived-in authenticity, Squat N Stool is a tender and humorous look at vulnerability, cultural habits, and the quiet negotiations we make in the early stages of belonging—where even the most private struggles can unexpectedly lead to connection.

  • Ramgopal Rajagopalan
    Director
    Mannequin, Alia
  • Ritisha Jhamb
    Key Cast
    "Ria"
    Mommy Issues
  • Dave Gibson
    Key Cast
    "William"
  • Brandon Caul
    Key Cast
    "Ben"
  • Lori Schock Ross
    Key Cast
    "Margret"
  • Goose
    Key Cast
    "Cherry"
  • Ram Rajagopalan
    Writer
  • Ram Rajagopalan
    Producer
  • Tegan Dobrich
    DOP
    Bubblegum Icecream
  • Hendrika Hermkens
    Production Designer
    Shattered Silence
  • Olivia McCormack
    Editor
    Ketchup: A Garage Band Ditty Rodeo
  • Pablo Khan
    Composer
    Mannequin
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 6, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Chicago South Asian Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    September 21, 2025
    Chicago Premiere
  • Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival
    Mississauga
    Canada
    November 26, 2025
    Ontario Premiere
    Official Selection ( Canadian Screen Awards Qualifying)
  • International Film Festival of South Asia
    Toronto
    Canada
    October 13, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Indie Meme Film Festival
    Austin
    United States
    April 26, 2026
    Texas Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Ramgopal Rajagopalan

Ram Rajagopalan is an award-winning filmmaker based between Vancouver, Toronto, and Pune, and the founder of RAMAR Productions Ltd., a boutique company focused on bold, socially resonant storytelling. His films have screened at Oscar®-qualifying and Canadian Screen Award–qualifying festivals worldwide, reflecting a body of work that moves fluidly across horror, comedy, drama, and thriller while remaining grounded in human truth.

Ram transitioned into filmmaking in 2023 after a two-decade career in technology, where he led large-scale product and engineering teams at Amazon—most notably within the Alexa organization in Toronto—and BlackBerry. He brings that same clarity of vision and collaborative leadership to filmmaking, assembling and guiding high-caliber creative teams.

His directorial debut Mannequin (2024, horror) won Best Horror Short at ConCarolinas and earned him the Best Emerging Director Award at the Bleeding Tree International Film Festival. The film screened at over ten festivals worldwide and received a nomination for Best Canadian Short at the Canadian Screen Award–qualifying Silver Wave Film Festival. His comedic short Squat N Stool tackles digestive health taboos with wit and accessibility, while as a producer he has supported projects such as Alia (drama), Spiral (thriller), and Bagman (horror). His other works, including Sandai and Oh My Cow, have placed in the Top 40 of major competitions such as Run N Gun, Vancouver.

Rooted in Indian street theatre and shaped by a cross-cultural perspective, Ram’s work centers on BIPOC voices, Tamil-Canadian narratives, and intimate, character-driven stories told with authenticity, emotional honesty, and craft.

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Director Statement

Growing up in India, squatting was instinctive—a simple, effective way of being. After moving to Canada, adapting to Western norms brought with it an unexpected, deeply personal challenge. What began as a physical inconvenience slowly became something more layered: a quiet negotiation between habit, environment, and identity.

Squat & Stool draws from this experience, using humor to explore how the body resists change even when the mind adapts. Through escalating situations and awkward intimacy, the film looks at the fragile space between control and vulnerability—especially when we find ourselves in unfamiliar settings, trying to belong.

At its core, this is a story about the small, often unspoken struggles that shape our sense of comfort, dignity, and connection—and how, sometimes, those very struggles can open the door to unexpected empathy.