Murad

Set in the vibrant lanes of Hyderabad’s Old City, Murad follows a young boy whose greatest passion is flying kites. While Murad dreams of the freedom and excitement he finds in the sky, his father is burdened by the harsh realities of survival, debt, and the constant struggle to provide for his family. Their lives revolve around a single auto-rickshaw, the family's only source of income. When a local gangster and moneylender, Salim Bhai, seizes Murad’s father’s auto over unpaid interest, the family is pushed into a desperate situation. Refusing to accept defeat, Murad decides to fight for his father in the only way he knows how. He challenges Salim Bhai’s son to a high-stakes kite duel, believing that winning the contest will help him reclaim the auto and restore hope to his family.

Driven by determination, courage, and a child’s unwavering faith, Murad gives everything he has to the competition. However, despite his efforts, he loses the duel. Yet in that moment of defeat, something more meaningful emerges. Witnessing the depth of Murad’s love for his father and the bond they share, Salim Bhai is moved and chooses to return the auto. What begins as a story about a kite fight ultimately becomes a heartfelt exploration of family, dignity, and the power of human compassion. In the end, Murad may not win the contest, but he gains something far more valuable: a stronger connection with his father and a renewed sense of hope.

Murad is an emotional story about dreams, survival, and family. It follows a young boy who risks his own freedom in a kite fight to help reclaim his father’s auto, the livelihood that holds his family together. Through Murad’s journey, the film explores the tension between aspiration and reality, and how families learn to understand and support one another during difficult times. The inspiration for this film comes from my childhood memories of flying kites. Growing up, I would spend evenings watching kites fill the sky, surrounded by people from different walks of life sharing the same joy. As I grew older, I realised that the same sunset could feel hopeful and beautiful to some, while carrying sadness and uncertainty for others.

In Murad, the sky and the ground act as metaphors. The sky represents freedom, dreams, and possibility, while the ground reflects the realities of survival and economic struggle. Set against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset, the film follows a small family whose world revolves around three people and one auto. Through their story, I hope to capture the resilience of hope and the strength found in family, even in the face of hardship.

G Basavaraju Rahul is a student filmmaker from Hyderabad pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Filmmaking at Annapurna College of Film and Media in Directing, Writing and Sound Engineering. He combines his technical skills in sound and camera work to tell clear, engaging stories. His recent projects include Murad, a short film about urban kite fighting and MOS, a documentary exploring the Hyderabad hip-hop scene. Rahul likes to create real, character-focused films. He prefers light, natural stories over heavy drama focusing on the simple moments of everyday life. Looking ahead, he hopes to keep making honest films that connect with people.