The award-winning short thriller Aakhri Ride is set for a global release on Halloween. Scheduled to premiere on October 31, 2026, the film will debut on the YouTube channel “Oh Short Flips,” a platform curated by Anurag Kashyap to showcase high-quality independent shorts.
The film marks the directorial debut of Vijesh Rajan and Yashoda Parthasarthy. Both directors are long-time collaborators of Kashyap, having previously served as VFX supervisors and motion designers. Their transition to directing follows a successful run on the international festival circuit, where Aakhri Ride earned the Silver Audience Award for Best Asian Short at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
Set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s socioeconomic divide, the plot follows a ride-share driver named Aman, played by Chandan Roy (known for his role in Panchayat). Driven by the pressure to raise money for his sister’s dowry, Aman attempts to steal his boss’s taxi. However, his plan takes a supernatural turn when he picks up a passenger who is revealed to be a “chudail”—a demonic witch from South Asian folklore.
The thriller also features Aamir Dalvi and Faisal Malik. According to The Economic Times, the film aims to blend horror-comedy elements with a social-horror lens, exploring the “invisible” tensions within the city’s streets.
Before its digital premiere, Aakhri Ride garnered significant critical attention. In addition to its win at Fantasia, the film was screened at several major genre festivals, including the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) and Fantastic Fest. It also received recognition closer to home, winning an award at the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival. The project is the latest release from the “Oh Short Flips” initiative, which intends to release one curated short film per month to highlight emerging indie talent.
