| Serious Men | |
| Director: | Sudhir Mishra |
| Producer: |
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| Based On: | by Manu Joseph |
| Starring: |
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| Music: | Karel Antonin |
| Cinematography: | Alexander Sukala |
| Editing: | Atanu Mukherjee |
| Studio: |
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| Distributor: | Netflix |
| Runtime: | 114 minutes[1] |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Hindi |
Serious Men is an Indian Hindi-language satirical comedy-drama film directed by Sudhir Mishra. It is based on the book of the same name by Manu Joseph[2] and features Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role. The film is produced by Bombay Fables and Cineraas Entertainment.[3] It was released on Netflix on 2 October 2020.[4] Exploring the themes of class, caste, and prejudice, the film is a reminder of the challenges that Dalit people face in India.[5] [6]
At the 2021 Filmfare OTT Awards, Serious Men received three nominations, including Best Supporting Actor in a Web Original Film for Aakshath Das, and won two awards: Best Web Original Film and Best Actor in a Web Original Film (Siddiqui).
The film follows Ayyan Mani, a middle-aged man working as an assistant to an astronomer at the National Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. He lives in a slum with his wife and son. Furious at his situation in life, Ayyan develops an outrageous story that his ten-year-old son, Adi, is a science genius.
Adi, though a bright boy, is no genius. Ayyan coaches him on what to say and do in public, and he uses a Bluetooth hearing aid to provide the boy with answers. Ayyan's scheme works, and Adi soon becomes a local celebrity. He is invited to give talks at schools and universities and is even featured on national television.
Ayyan's success attracts the attention of a local politician, who sees Adi as a potential asset for his party. He offers Ayyan a large sum of money if he can convince Adi to endorse the politician's party in the upcoming elections. Ayyan agrees but soon realizes that he has made a mistake.
In the end, Ayyan's deception is revealed. The family moves to a seaside village to live a simpler life.
The film is based on the book Serious Men by Manu Joseph. The makers of the film decided to cast Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the lead in June 2019.[7] Principal photography commenced in September 2019.[8]
The film was released on Netflix on 2 October 2020.[4]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Editing | Atanu Mukherjee | [10] | |
| Best Cinematography | Alexander Surkala | ||||
| International Emmy Awards | Best Actor | Nawazuddin Siddiqui | [11] | ||
| Filmfare OTT Awards | Best Web Original Film | Serious Men | [12] [13] | ||
| Best Actor in a Web Original Film | Nawazuddin Siddiqui | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Web Original Film | Aakshath Das | ||||