Rahi Anil Barve, Acclaimed director of the 2018 cult horror film Tumbbad, has created a new experimental psychological folk-horror film, Mann Pishach, using artificial intelligence, Photoshop, and basic digital tools. The 80-minute film will release directly on YouTube on March 18.
The film tells the story of Sadashiv Rao, a lonely junior officer investigating a strange stone dome in a remote village. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a disturbing truth hidden beneath the hill and within the villagers themselves. The story explores themes of suppressing feelings, human cruelty, and the darkness that results from ignoring the hidden shadows in the human mind.
Barve created Mann Pishach on a zero-budget of ₹33,000, using a home computer, iPhone recordings, and two actors, Yaaneea Bhardwaj and Deepak Damle. The project took nearly four months to complete, with AI tools aiding in the process. Barve emphasizes that technology alone cannot make a film, and AI is only a tool that becomes meaningful with proper writing, planning, and human performance.
The screenplay, written by Zaai Gulmohar, focuses on visuals, silence, and voice narration, rather than heavy dialogues. Every shot was sketched on paper to maintain visual continuity and manage AI limitations. Barve's experiment aims to inspire struggling artists to create something from nothing, using imagination, basic tools, and, of course, stubborn passion. Mann Pishach premieres on YouTube on March 18, showcasing Barve's innovative approach to filmmaking.