Neelesh Misra's Kood: What The Makers Have To Say
Some films are written. Some are performed. Some are crafted. And some, like Kood, are quietly lived before they are ever seen.
At the heart of it all is Neelesh Misra—a storyteller who has always believed in the power of pause. With Kood, he brings that same stillness into cinema. A story that doesn’t rush, doesn’t explain too much, but gently sits with its characters, allowing silences to speak and moments to linger a little longer than usual.
A film is made by it's cast and crew. By all the people who decided to believe in a story and give their hundred percent to it! We decided to bring their experiences about the film to you and let you have quick view of what it feels like on this side.
Starting with your beloved storyteller, Neelesh Misra who is both the director and the main lead of the film. He has always been keen about telling stories, may it be through his journalism, his songs or his radio shows. Misra has always found a way to bring beautiful and simple stories to his listeners, readers and now viewers. But as simple as his stories have been, they always hold the power to shift something inside you.
And upon being asked about his experience as an actor he said, "I have been acting in front of the mic for a long time now! I have been acting with my voice for all these years. This is just the first time that it came in front of a camera. But surely it has been a new experience, one that has taught so much! I am always looking forward to try new things and take all the nervous first steps with so much enthusiasm!"
For Ketaki Kulkarni, Misra's amazing co-actor, the journey felt like coming full circle.
"From listening to his stories on FM to sharing the same creative space—it didn’t feel unfamiliar for long. There was an ease on set, a warmth that made even a serious story feel light to carry. The days flowed so naturally that the end came almost unnoticed. Watching a story come alive from so close was, in her words, nothing short of magical."
The story found its shape through its screenplay writer, Anulata Raj Nair, whose journey into screenwriting was one of learning and unlearning. After writing extensively for audio, she was drawn to cinema—only to realize how different the craft truly is.
“Screenwriting is a completely different craft,” she says.
While audio allowed her to be descriptive and lyrical, films demanded restraint. “The power lies in minimalism—using the fewest words possible.” Adapting to this shift and even learning tools like Final Draft, became part of the process for her.
“I learned that a screenwriter is not the director. It’s about leaving space for the visual medium to breathe.” And in that space, Kood quietly came to life.
And then, there was the rhythm of the set. For Ritam, the film came together in the spaces between planning and spontaneity. As the Chief Assistant Director, his role wasn’t just about managing the shoot, it was about holding everything together. From ensuring the vision stayed on track to keeping the energy of the set balanced, he became the quiet force that allowed the story to unfold seamlessly.
In a film like Kood, where silence and stillness matter as much as dialogue, that balance becomes even more important. And somewhere in that process, structure and emotion found a way to coexist.
And then, there was the way it was seen.
For Abhishek Verma, the DOP, Kood marked a quiet transition—from capturing reality as it is, to shaping it as it feels. Coming from documentary filmmaking, he stepped into fiction not just as an observer, but as a creator of moments. Light, movement, and emotion were no longer found—they were carefully built, frame by frame.
Together, these journeys didn’t just create a film. They created a space. A space where stories were not rushed, performances were not forced, and visuals were not just seen, but felt. Because sometimes, what we watch is only a small part of the story. The rest lives in the journeys that brought it to life.
So did you watch Kood? If yes, do let us know what stayed with you!