A debut feature by tech-entrepreneur turned filmmaker Ankur Singla, ‘Ghich Pich’ premieres across Indian cinemas this August 1st after a stellar world premiere at Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF). Chandigarh | July 2025:
Following a rousing world premiere at the prestigious Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF) earlier this year and an exceptional IMDB rating of 9.7, Ghich Pich, a stirring new coming-of-age drama, is set to release across cinemas in India on August 1, 2025—on massive
public demand.
Set in the late 1990s Chandigarh, Ghich Pich tells the moving story of three teenage boys navigating the complex emotional terrain of growing up, friendship, rebellion, and strained
relationships with their fathers. Rich in atmosphere and steeped in nostalgia, the film vividly brings to life a city and a generation grappling with identity, expectations, and suppressed emotions.
TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/53AK4RIEkg0?si=2Y9kqeclqeKgGk8u
A Tech Visionary Turns Filmmaker
The film marks the directorial and writing debut of Ankur Singla, a former lawyer and tech
entrepreneur who sold his successful Sequoia-backed startup to Amazon before founding
Barsaati Films, a Delhi-based indie production house.
“Ghich Pich is my love letter to Chandigarh and the boys I grew up with. It’s inspired by my own
memories, the parenting styles of that era, and the emotional chaos teenage boys silently carry,”
says Ankur. “The lockdown gave me time to reflect and unearth stories from my past. It also
gave me the courage to finally chase what I’ve always wanted to do—tell human stories through
cinema.
Ankur’s inspiration draws from Indian indie gems like Udaan and Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi,
and his narrative finds a delicate balance between mainstream appeal and intimate realism—a
genre often dubbed “Mindie” cinema.
The Film
Shot entirely in Chandigarh in early 2023, Ghich Pich is named after the Hindi colloquial for a
mental or emotional logjam—a perfect metaphor for its teenage protagonists stuck between
tradition and independence. It’s also a nostalgic lens into a city often underrepresented on
screen.
From the brutalist beauty of Capitol Complex, to the carefree charm of the Rose Garden,
Sukhna Lake, and the gehri route, Ghich Pich captures Chandigarh not just as a backdrop, but
as a silent character steeped in warmth, memory, and emotion.
The film also marks the final feature film appearance of the late Nitesh Pandey, known for
iconic roles in Khosla Ka Ghosla and Om Shanti Om. He plays Rakesh Arora, a rare
affectionate father figure in a decade known for strict parenting.
CAST & CHARACTER SKETCHES
● Shhivam Kakar as Gaurav Arora: A brash, masculine teenager with a short temper but
a deep bond with his father. Known for his work in Flames and Indoo Ki Jawani, this is
Shhivam’s first lead feature.
● Kabir Nanda as Gurpreet Singh: A sensitive Sikh boy and budding cricketer navigating
young love and parental expectations. Kabir prepped extensively for the role, including
learning cricket and wearing a turban.
● Aryan Rana as Anurag Bansal: A studious but confused teen facing crushing academic
pressure from a demanding father. Aryan brings raw honesty to the role in his first film
appearance.
● Nitesh Pandey (Rakesh Arora) – A soft-spoken, emotionally evolved father; his final
screen role is bound to leave a mark. Much loved and admired, Nitesh did pivotal roles in
Khosla Ka Ghosla and Anupama.
● Geeta Agrawal Sharma (Ritu Arora) – The strong, grounding maternal figure who
brings stability in the household. She is known for her work in Laapataa Ladies and 12th
Fail.
● Satyajit Sharma (Naresh Bansal) – A classic 90s disciplinarian father who demands
excellence, no matter the emotional cost. He is well known for his work in Made
in Heaven and Balika Vadhu.
EXPLORING THE FATHER-SON DYNAMIC
Ghich Pich boldly explores a theme rarely touched with such nuance in Indian cinema: the
emotional disconnect between fathers and sons. Drawing comparisons to Udaan, the film
dives into how patriarchal expectations, generational trauma, and changing societal roles shape
masculinity and emotional expression.
“Writing Ghich Pich was like hitting a refresh button and you realise there is so much locked in
our mind’s storehouse,” says Ankur. Over a year and a half, he churned out multiple drafts of
his story, of growing up in Chandigarh, of these boys who are on the cusp of adulthood. “We
were young and restless, desperate to break free. There was a set way of parenting – most
fathers were dominating, hard taskmasters and disciplinarians – even most grown men still feel a
little uncomfortable sitting alone and having an elaborate dinner with their fathers! Mothers were
the mediators. Thankfully, parenting styles have changed a lot since those days!” he adds.
Teenage, especially for boys of 17-18 years remains tricky. “ It’s an age where one feels trapped
and there is a logjam in the brain, a ghichpich of sorts,” says Ankur, who shot the film in
February 2023.
“Most boys grow up idolising or fearing their fathers, often both. There’s love, but also rebellion.
Understanding only comes later,” says actor Aryan Rana. “For many of us, our fathers were
always present but rarely emotionally available.”
Adds Kabir Nanda, “It took me growing up to understand my own father’s pressures. That
emotional gap is a core part of Ghich Pich—one that many will relate to.”
Shhivam Kakar agrees that sons have a complicated relationship with their fathers, and it’s
hardly addressed or up for any discussion in the Indian family.
MUSIC & CREW
The film’s songs are composed by Rohit Sharma (Kashmir Files, Aspirants) with lyrics penned
by the acclaimed lyricist Shellee (Dev D, Manmarziyaan). The stirring background score was
composed by Ritwik De. Syed Mubashshir Ali edits the film, maintaining a tight, immersive
rhythm that never loses emotional focus. Ali is also a filmmaker based in Delhi, and is at
present directing Chitthi Chor, a film set in the nomadic landscape of Uttarakhand. His other
works include a short titled Squeaky Shoes, feature Dhai Aakhar and web series Akathit.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: ANKUR SINGLA
A proud son of Chandigarh, Ankur Singla studied at St. Stephen’s School (Sector 45) and
GMSSS-16, before pursuing law at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.
There, his love for cinema blossomed through film clubs and world cinema. After a successful
corporate journey—including founding and selling a major tech startup—Ankur returned to his first love: storytelling.
Through Barsaati Films, he aims to create heartfelt, narrative-driven films
that lie outside the commercial Bollywood machinery.
Ankur lives in Delhi with his wife and two children.
FILM RELEASE
Ghich Pich opens in theatres nationwide on August 1, 2025. It is a rare gem: deeply
personal, rooted in place, emotionally resonant, and destined to become a modern indie
classic.
For interviews, press screenings or additional information, please contact:
Jaskiran Kapoor
📞 +91 9876124351
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