Oct. 18, 2019|India|112 Min.|PG
Genre: Bollywood;Comedy;Drama
Description: Three college graduates aim to do good while making millions by launching a startup. However, as their business begins to thrive, their friendship starts to deteriorate.
Kapil, one of the graduates, embodies the spirit of every young entrepreneur driven by the start-up craze. He identifies a unique business opportunity even in the most challenging circumstances. After witnessing the death of an elderly man in a remote village where he volunteers weekly, Kapil is inspired to create “CarryKaro,” a delivery app similar to Ola or Uber, designed to deliver life-saving medicines to rural areas. While his motives are rooted in social welfare, he openly admits his intention to make a profit. Unlike his friend Jaya, played by Sheetal Thakur, Kapil’s business model is unapologetically focused on financial gains.
The film, co-written by Ketan Bhagat, takes a deliberate and measured approach to storytelling. The first half-hour is dedicated to exploring the challenges of turning an idea into reality—from designing a user-friendly app interface and promoting it to potential users, to securing funding. The trio’s journey is depicted as tough and authentic, giving the film a sense of realism often missing in success stories. It doesn’t just celebrate innovative ideas from Bangalore’s IT hub but also highlights the effort, money, and sacrifices behind perfecting a concept.
Kapil’s grip on his creation begins to loosen when he secures an investor: the idealistic son of India’s “Beedi King.” The investor, Veer Diwan, a sophisticated US-returned financier, has noble intentions—he prides himself on being different from his father, who profited from selling cigarettes. Instead, Veer wants to fund projects that help millions access life-saving medicines.
The film “Upstarts” offers a compelling look at the complexities of entrepreneurship, friendship, and ethical business practices.
Cast director: Udai Singh Pawar
Cast actor: Priyanshu Painyuli, Shadab Kamal, Chandrachoor Rai, Rajeev Siddhartha
Original name: Upstarts