Amazon’s Unpaused Anthology Offers Hope During Lockdown

Barely weeks after  the  Tamil anthology Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa  unlocking the  fears tears hope  and  other dope during the lockdown, Amazon Prime Video is  back with  a  similar five-story  high  ‘sigh’-scraper ,this time in  the rashtra bhasha.

 The just-out trailer of Unpaused: Naya Safar  which starts streaming on January 21 is filled with heartwarming  moments, as we see some unwaveringly  competent actors  at work here. Veteran Neena Gupta in Gond Ke Laddu directed  by  Shikha Makan wants to send laddoos to her  daughter during the lockdown.But God and  the courier  boy have other plans. Ashish Varma is  moving  in Ruchir Arun’s  Teen  Tigada  as  an  underdog   who  craves for samosas. Shreya Dhanwanthary and Priyanshu Painyuli steal a kiss in  Nupur Asthana’s  Couple.

While  the  mood in the  trailer is upbeat,  there are dark undercurrents to be discerned everywhere  in the way  people try to reach  out to one another. No one is painting a  rosy picture of  the lockdown here. But there are glimpses  of  hope and comfort in  the stories. I can’t wait to see  how they finally appear  on January 21.

Ruchir Arun, Director, Teen Tigada, renarks,  “Unpaused: Naya Safar anthology boasts of compelling narratives, showcasing a multitude of emotions and we’re really excited to bring our film as part of this anthology. With Teen Tigada, our effort was to highlight the threshold of human emotions, amidst the tribulations of an ongoing pandemic which hit us like a storm. This film has a unique narrative, beautifully translated on screen by the actors and we hope it will resonate strongly with the masses as well.”

Nupur Asthana, Director, The Couple, observes “Layoffs were a glaring reality of the pandemic that hit professionals very hard the world over, leaving them uncertain and demotivated. The Couple captures the emotional upheaval and complexities caused by such a professional setback and how it impacts personal relationships between two people altering their realities. The first edition of the anthology beautifully struck a chord with the audience, and we hope now Unpaused Naya Safar will, am sure, open to similar love and appreciation.

Shikha Makan, Director, Gond Ke Laddu, said “The pandemic has affected one and all in ways that are unexpected and uncalled for. We all worry for our loved ones living far away and look for means to connect and care for them even from a distance. And sometimes we find connections with strangers too. The idea of Gond Ke Laddu was to showcase the spectrum of human bonds, but with a twist. It was an enriching experience to shoot this film with an amazing cast and crew who breathed life into this subtle yet substantial narrative. We’re sure the story will connect with the audiences at an emotional level.”

Ayappa KM, Director, War Room, said “War Room showcases the vulnerability of frontline workers who encountered unfavourable situations during the outbreak of the pandemic. This is a gripping story that unravels a different facet of human emotion in duress and I owe it to the entire team for bringing it alive so beautifully.”

Nagraj Manjule, Director  of  Vaikunth, said “Unpaused Naya Safar anthology reflects on a range of emotions with each of its films, and Vaikunth adds on to this with a unique balance of gloom and hope, peppered with unpredictability. We, as a team are humbled and honored to bring this story as part of this anthology and we hope that it stays with the audience for a long time.”