Anup Singh directs new Mumbai film 'Lasya: The Gentle Dance'

As of August 29, 2026, at 12:06 AM PT, Director Anup Singh, known for 'The Song of Scorpions' and 'Qissa,' is developing a new Mumbai-based film titled 'Lasya: The Gentle Dance.' This information was first reported exclusively by Variety.

Anup Singh, the filmmaker behind "Qissa" and "The Song of Scorpions," is currently directing a new short movie, "Lasya: The Gentle Dance," which was filmed on the thoroughfares of Mumbai and is being produced by Mumbai-based Pretty Pictures.

"The Gentle Dance" depicts a day in the lives of a father and son who beg on the streets of Mumbai. Their makeshift dwelling is repeatedly destroyed by monsoon rains, and the city offers them little but animosity and indifference. The father recounts stories about the boy’s deceased mother—her bravery and her refusal to abandon her playful spirit even when navigating urban and natural environments. These tales enable the son to transcend his victimhood, inspiring him to dance amidst the devastation as she once did and to rebuild his existence.

Singh explained that he sees this project as a short film, describing it as a "desperate attempt" to ascertain whether cinema's subtle methods of connecting with audiences can still prevail in an era dominated by AI, rapid and violent action, and the promotion of various demagogueries in storytelling.

Pretty Pictures, a Mumbai-based company managed by Zeeshan Ahmad and Pretty Aggarwal, is the production company behind this film.

Ahmad remarked that Anup Singh's cinematic work consistently focuses on marginalized individuals. He noted that Singh's films have always emphasized that their lives should not solely be depicted through pain, but that the happiness and inherent beauty of their experiences should also be acknowledged. Ahmad expressed their commitment to supporting this perspective through their collaboration.

Following the completion of this short film, Pretty Pictures intends to start working with Singh early next year on his next full-length feature. This upcoming project would be the third film he planned to create with the late actor Irrfan Khan, marking its return to development approximately six years after Khan’s passing.

Ahmad stated that after this short film, they are prepared to commence work with Anup Singh on his subsequent feature film early next year, adding that Singh is finally ready to return to the project and they are very enthusiastic about making this film as a tribute to Irrfan Khan.