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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Anukul
| image          = Anukul poster.jpg
| caption        = Poster of the film
| director       = [[Sujoy Ghosh]]
| screenplay     = Sujoy Ghosh
| story          =
| based_on       = {{based on|''Anukul''|[[Satyajit Ray]]}}
| starring       = [[Parambrata Chatterjee]]<br />[[Saurabh Shukla]]
| producer       = Sujoy Ghosh
| cinematography =
| editing        = [[Namrata Rao]]
| music          =
| released       = {{film date|df=y|2017|10|4}}
| runtime        = 21 minutes
| studio         = Boundscript Motion Pictures
| distributor    = Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films
| country        = India
| language       = [[Hindi]]
}}
'''''Anukul''''' is a [[2017 in film|2017]] Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[science fiction]] [[drama]] [[short film]] directed by [[Sujoy Ghosh]] with [[Parambrata Chatterjee]] and [[Saurabh Shukla]] in the lead roles.<ref name="toi">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/parambrata-saurabh-shukla-in-sujoy-ghoshs-short-anukul/articleshow/58911650.cms|title=Parambrata, Saurabh Shukla in Sujoy Ghosh's short, Anukul - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> It is based on the eponymous short story written by [[Satyajit Ray]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sujoy-ghosh-to-make-short-film-on-satyajit-ray-story-4584246/|title=Sujoy Ghosh to make short film on Satyajit Ray story|date=24 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/sujoy-ghosh-make-short-film-satyajit-rays-anukul/|title=Sujoy Ghosh to make short film on Satyajit Ray's Anukul - Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|date=24 March 2017}}</ref>

==Plot==
Nikunj Chaturvedi, a [[Hindi language|Hindi]], buys an [[Android (robot)|android]] from a salesperson of [[Chowringhee]] Robot Supply Corp. Before buying it, Nikunj Babu is warned by the salesperson not to hit the android named Anukul.

A few days later, Nikunj Babu's cousin brother Ratan visits Nikunj Babu at his home. He is surprised to see that his brother had bought a robot. Since he had recently been fired from his workplace due to complications with androids, the enraged Ratan proceeds to hit Anukul in the head with a clothing [[Clothes iron|iron]], causing Anukul to shut down.

In a different visit to his [[cousin]] brother's house, Ratan tells Nikunj Babu (who has recently lost his job due to a much-smarter and more efficient android) that he had become rich by inheriting the wealth from a recently deceased relative. While Nikunj Babu is away, the drunk Ratan again attempts to abuse the android, forcing Anukul to electrocute him with a high voltage electric spark, resulting in his untimely demise. The doctor, who examines Ratan, claims that he died from a heart attack.

A lawyer visits Nikunj Babu at his home from whom Nikunj Babu learns that he has inherited Ratan's whole wealth, as he is the only living [[next of kin]]. He is surprised to know that the value of his newly discovered wealth is {{INR}}11.5 [[crore]]. Nikunj Babu and Anukul briefly exchange glances, as the film ends.

==Cast==
*[[Parambrata Chatterjee]] as Anukul, a [[humanoid robot]] who has human-like thinking.
*[[Saurabh Shukla]] as Nikunj Chaturvedi, a school teacher and the owner of Anukul.
*[[Kharaj Mukherjee]]<ref name="toi"/> as Ratan, the cousin brother of Nikunj Babu.
*[[Kanchan Mullick]] as Kanchan Khatmal, the president of Human Servants Association.
*[[Barun Chanda]] as the unnamed [[Lawyer]]
*[[Ekavali Khanna]] as the CRS salesperson
*Dr. Ranjan Raychowdhury as himself

==Production==
Director [[Sujoy Ghosh]] wanted to make ''Anukul'' after the success of his 2015 short film ''[[Ahalya (2015 film)|Ahalya]]''. He had initially cast [[Ronodeep Bose]] for the role of Anukul. But, the actor met with a bike accident and slipped into coma. Ghosh had also thought of casting [[Abir Chatterjee]] and [[Jisshu Sengupta]] for the role,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/after-ahalya-sujoy-back-with-short-based-on-ray-story/articleshow/57793597.cms|title=After Ahalya, Sujoy back with short based on Ray story - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> but that did not go through. So, Ghosh had to shelve the project. After some time, the project was re-opened and Ghosh started to shoot Anukul with a brand new cast. Starring in the short film are [[Kharaj Mukherjee]], [[Saurabh Shukla]] and [[Parambrata Chatterjee]].<ref name="toi" />

==Reception==
The film gained above 100,000 views within 24 hours of its release.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/J2mqIgdae5I Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20171007030608/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2mqIgdae5I Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2mqIgdae5I| title = Anukul {{!}} Satyajit Ray {{!}} Sujoy Ghosh I Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The short film has received positive responses from the critics around [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sujoy-ghosh-anukul-short-film-digital-platform-demands-a-greater-amount-of-dedication-and-hard-work-4874570/|title=Sujoy Ghosh: Digital platform demands a greater amount of dedication and hard work|date=4 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thereel.scroll.in/853026/in-anukul-sujoy-ghosh-does-a-fine-job-of-adapting-satyajit-rays-sci-fi-short-story|title = In 'Anukul', Sujoy Ghosh does a fine job of adapting Satyajit Ray's sci-fi short story}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eisamay.indiatimes.com/entertainment/cinema/sujoy-ghosh-directs-his-latest-short-film-on-rays-anukul/articleshow/60944192.cms|title=ফের সত্যজিত্‍ ম্যাজিক! মুক্তি পেল সুজয় ঘোষের 'অনুকূল'}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' said, "The short film makes one think about the possibilities that are on the verge of becoming a reality and Ghosh’s haunting tone in some parts of the film leaves you with an eerie feeling. It makes one wonder that if this is the future we’re actively stepping into, then the race for survival is going to turn even more brutal but only for those who are unwilling to welcome it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/anukul-short-film-sujoy-ghosh-review-4877111/|title = Anukul review: Sujoy Ghosh's adaptation of Satyajit Ray's story takes you to an inevitable dystopian future|date = 6 October 2017}}</ref> A notable Indian actor,  [[Amitabh Bachchan|Amitabh Bacchan]], has praised the short film.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood-amitabh-bachchan-lauds-sujoy-ghosh-short-film-anukul-calls-it-unique-satyajit-ray-story-405094| title = Amitabh Bachchan lauds Sujoy Ghosh's short film Anukul, calls it unique Satyajit Ray story {{!}} Bollywood News – India TV| date = 6 October 2017}}</ref> [[Hindustan Times]] said, "Both Saurabh and Parambrata give understated performances, in sync with the mood of the film. And, without saying much, the climax leaves us in a dilemma - should we judge the characters for what they did or should we applaud their presence of mind?".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/anukul-sujoy-ghosh-brings-satyajit-ray-dystopian-world-alive-in-a-dark-edgy-film-watch-it-here/story-vRTnPIQpCrZlwwN11jrWcN.html|title=Anukul: Sujoy Ghosh brings Satyajit Ray dystopian world alive in a dark, edgy film. Watch it here|date=6 October 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Ahalya (2015 film)|Ahalya]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2mqIgdae5I&t=3s ''Anukul''] on [[YouTube]]
*{{IMDb title|tt7493710}}

{{Sujoy Ghosh}}
{{Satyajit Ray}}

[[Category:Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2017 films]]
[[Category:Indian short films]]
[[Category:Indian science fiction films]]
[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sujoy Ghosh]]
[[Category:Films based on short fiction]]
[[Category:2017 science fiction films]]