From ₹33K to a Full-Length Film: Rahi Anil Barve’s ‘Mann Pishach’ Redefines DIY Cinema
From ₹33K to a Full-Length Film: Rahi Anil Barve’s ‘Mann Pishach’ Redefines DIY Cinema
Big budgets and large crews have long defined filmmaking, but Rahi Anil Barve is challenging that idea in the most unconventional way. The director, widely recognized for his cult horror film Tumbbad, has unveiled his latest project Mann Pishach—an 80-minute experimental psychological folk-horror film made with just ₹33,000, two actors, and a home computer.
The trailer for Mann Pishach was released on March 14, giving audiences a glimpse into a haunting and minimalistic narrative. Breaking away from traditional filmmaking methods, Barve created the film using artificial intelligence tools, Photoshop, and basic digital software, calling it a “zero-budget” experiment. The film premiered directly on YouTube on March 18, bypassing conventional theatrical or streaming routes.
Set in a remote village named Hadamgaon, the story follows Sadashiv Rao, a junior officer in the Department of Archaeology. He is sent to investigate a mysterious stone dome that emerged after a landslide during the monsoon. During his stay with a young widow, Savitri, Rao begins to notice unsettling patterns—strict rules like shutting doors before nightfall, eerie silence after dark, and villagers reluctant to discuss the dome’s origins.
As the investigation deepens, Rao uncovers a disturbing truth buried not only beneath the hill but within the people themselves. The narrative explores themes of suppressed emotions, human cruelty, and the psychological darkness that emerges when inner fears are ignored.
The film features only two actors, Yaaneea Bhardwaj and Deepak Damle, whose performances were recorded using an iPhone. The entire production relied on a 60-page script, hand-drawn storyboards, generative AI tools, Photoshop, and After Effects—all executed on a home PC.
Speaking about the project on social media, Barve wrote, “MANN-PISHACH, A zero-budget film experiment by Rahi Anil Barve. An 80-minute film built on a home PC using two actors — Yaaneea Bhardwaj and Deepak Damle — along with iPhone performances, a 60-page screenplay, hand-drawn storyboards, Photoshop, generative AI tools and After Effects.”
Do share. For every broke, struggling passionate filmmaker Dreaming of making a zero budget film: MANN-PISHACH is an 80-minute experimental film built on a home PC. Two actors – Yaaneea Bhardwaj and Deepak Damle – iPhone performance footage, a 60-page screenplay, hand-drawn… pic.twitter.com/diHKqtyKVi
— rahi anil barve (@BarveRahi) March 17, 2026
He further added, “Total cost: ₹33,000. The real question behind this experiment was simple: Can a broke filmmaker build a full film alone? All it really needs is imagination, basic tools, patience and stubborn passion. If even one struggling artist creates something from nothing after watching this, the experiment has already succeeded.”
The screenplay, written by Zaai Gulmohar, was carefully designed to work within the limitations of AI technology. Instead of relying heavily on dialogue, the film emphasizes visual storytelling, silence, and voice narration to create atmosphere and tension.
Barve revealed that once the script was complete, every scene was first sketched manually. This planning process helped maintain visual consistency while also reducing production costs and working efficiently within technological constraints. The entire project took nearly four months to complete.
While AI played a crucial role, Barve emphasized that it is merely a tool and not a replacement for creativity. According to him, strong writing, preparation, and human performances remain the backbone of meaningful cinema.
Barve’s journey with unconventional storytelling isn’t new. Tumbbad, set in rural Maharashtra, followed the story of Vinayak Rao and his obsession with a cursed treasure guarded by the sinister Hastar. Although the film underperformed during its initial 2018 release, its 2024 re-release turned it into a major success, crossing ₹50 crore and reigniting interest in a potential sequel.
