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Chandigarh, July 18, 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.
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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.
Ankur said that Ghich Pich is his love letter to Chandigarh and the boys he grew up with. It's inspired by his own memories, the parenting styles of that era, and the emotional chaos teenage boys silently carry. He said further that the lockdown gave me time to reflect and unearth stories from his past. It also gave me the courage to finally chase what he has 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.
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.
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.
Ankur Singla said that writing Ghich Pich was like hitting a refresh button and you realise there is so much locked in our mind's storehouse. 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. He added that 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.
Teenage, especially for boys of 17-18 years remains tricky. Ankur said that it's an age where one feels trapped and there is a logjam in the brain, a ghichpich of sorts, who shot the film in February 2023.
Actor Aryan Rana said that most boys grow up idolising or fearing their fathers, often both. There's love, but also rebellion. Understanding only comes later. Actor Kabir Nanda said that for many of us, our fathers were always present but rarely emotionally available. Kabir Nanda added that it took him growing up to understand his 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.
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.
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