Anurag Kashyap-backed Little Thomas, a 90s Goa-set children’s film starring Gulshan Devaiah, Rasika Dugal and child actor Hridansh Parekh, hits Indian theatres on October 23. Directed by Kaushal Oza, the gentle family drama follows a seven-year-old boy’s mission to get his quarrelling parents to kiss so he can finally have the baby brother he dreams of.
Where do babies come from? For seven-year-old Thomas, the answer is simple: his parents just need to kiss. That innocent premise drives Anurag Kashyap-produced Little Thomas, the upcoming feature starring Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal, which has locked in its nationwide theatrical release for October 23.
Directed by Kaushal Oza and produced by Luminoso Pictures, Civic Studios, Good Bad Films, and Ranjan Singh's Flip Films and Kashyap, the feature stars child artiste Hridansh Parekh in the titular role.
The film marks Kashyap’s first foray into children’s cinema since his 2007 animated directorial venture Return of Hanuman.
Hailing Little Thomas the "cutest" film he has been a part of, Devaiah said the film is a heartwarming story of a simple family from Goa. "Being a part of the amazing works built by Kaushal Oza and sharing the screen with Rasika Dugal has been a very memorable experience for me.”
Dugal, meanwhile, stated that she is delighted that Little Thomas is finding its way to cinemas. "It is a film which is committed to the soul of its story without resorting to unnecessary frills. There are also such few films being made for children today, particularly films that don’t talk down to them. I feel Little Thomas fills that gap in a very lovely way — it’s a children’s film, but one that adults can enjoy just as much."
Set in Goa of the 90s, the film follows Thomas, the only child of his parents, who desperately wants a little brother. "One day, he is told that to get a baby brother his parents will have to kiss. Since his quarrelling parents won't kiss any longer, little Thomas takes it upon himself to make them do the yucky act!" the film's synopsis reads.
Anushka Shah, Civic Studios, said that as a team, they wanted to back this story "because it answers an important question while filling a much-needed gap for high-quality children's films in India."
While for producer Ranjan Singh, Little Thomas was a film the team made to "remind us why we make films." He added, "In an age of fast cuts and high on adrenaline films, this is a simple, sweet film which every family member can watch and should watch it together."
For Oza, Little Thomas is a film inspired by his childhood. "Thomas will make you smile, make you laugh, and even shed a tear or two."