Brothers Turn Grandmother's Influence Into Yoga Horror Film

Brothers Kanish and Rish Arhant-Sudhir have released their first feature film, 'Namaslay,' after a seven-year development period. The movie functions as a horror satire that examines how Western culture appropriates yoga. The siblings built the project around their own cultural background and personal family dynamics.

The central character, Paati, is inspired by the brothers' grandmother. Usha Krishnan portrays the role on screen. Rish Arhant-Sudhir stated that their deepened relationship with their grandmother allowed them to handle the film's themes with greater care. He described the resulting tone as 'more blowtorch, less flamethrower' compared to their initial vision. This shift enabled the story to explore sensitive topics through the bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter.

The film addresses economic and cultural extraction in the yoga industry. Rish described the experience as having a slapstick surface but a sinister underlying structure. He noted that the narrative deals with strains of colonialism and the practice of commoditizing culture for resale at a premium price. Kanish Arhant-Sudhir emphasized that identity is a component of a character rather than the entire story. He argued that identity alone cannot support a narrative and must affect how a character interacts with the plot.

The brothers worked with a team of close friends who served as department heads. They brought these allies on board after facing repeated refusals from industry professionals who doubted their ability to complete the project. Rish recalled hearing that they could not pull the film off. He credited the department heads with taking chances on them, turning those possibilities into reality. Kanish noted that he valued the 'precise level of artistry' provided by these friends and appreciated the ability to share meals away from the set.

The production survived financial hurdles and persistent rejections. Kanish described their writing process as a constant exchange where one brother hands scenes to the other when stuck. This method ensures that drafts are reviewed and reworked by both parties before completion. Kanish stated that there has never been a day where both brothers gave up. He explained that if one person believes the sun will come up, the other follows that lead, ensuring the project continues forward.