Indian cinema is set to receive a fresh coming-of-age comedy as BAFTA Breakthrough Fellow Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy takes the director's chair for 'Teacher's Pet', an adolescent comedy drama set against the backdrop of an all-girls Catholic boarding school in India.
Project Details and Creative Team
The exciting project will be presented at the WAVES Film Bazaar, which serves as the market component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025. Adding considerable weight to the production is acclaimed 'Jubilee' and 'Black Warrant' filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, who has come on board as executive producer through his Andolan Films banner.
The film is based on a script by Shuchi Dwivedi and brings together two production houses - Aishwarya Sonar's Lambe Log Productions and Dwivedi's own Small Town Gurl Productions. This collaboration represents a significant moment for Indian storytelling on global platforms.
Storyline and Thematic Elements
'Teacher's Pet' follows the journey of Rinky, an overachieving student determined to secure the position of head girl at her school. Her carefully laid plans face unexpected disruption when she finds herself competing against her former best friend.
What begins as a simple rivalry gradually evolves into a chaotic yet heartfelt exploration of adolescent identity, friendship dynamics, and the universal awkwardness that characterizes the growing up experience. The filmmakers promise an authentic portrayal of teenage life in the unique environment of an Indian boarding school.
Global Vision and Representation
The project is driven by a creative team operating at the intersection of Indian and American film industries. In a powerful statement about their motivation, the filmmakers revealed their personal connection to the story's theme of representation.
"We grew up searching for ourselves in coming-of-age stories about white girls," said producer Aishwarya Sonar in an interview with Variety. "With this, we're working towards being part of that change, not just for representation's sake, but also to showcase the vibrant universe of Indian comedies, which are rare on global screens."
Sonar, whose recent work includes the short films "Yakshi" featuring Babil Khan and Anna Ben and "Hema" starring Rajshri Deshpande, emphasized their commitment to "telling Indian stories for the world" through her production company Lambe Log Productions.
Casting is currently underway for the project, with production scheduled to commence in December 2026 in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Director's Credentials and Previous Work
Director Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy brings considerable experience to the project, having previously directed the Kannada language feature "Aachar & Co." and the documentary series "Jeevalahari" for Doordarshan. Her latest Kannada-language feature, "13 Days", is currently in post-production, adding to her growing portfolio of diverse storytelling.
The BAFTA Breakthrough initiative, which recognizes Murthy as a fellow, aims to support and showcase emerging talent in the film, games, and television industries, making her involvement particularly significant for this Indo-global collaboration.
