National Award-winning director Sudhanshu Saria continues to impress with his diverse and compelling storytelling. With a unique ability to navigate different genres, his work stands out for its depth, emotional complexity, and cinematic brilliance. As he celebrates his birthday, let’s revisit five of his most remarkable projects that you simply can’t miss:
- Ulajh – A Spy Thriller with a Global Impact
Saria takes the helm in Ulajh, a gripping female-led espionage drama produced by Junglee Pictures. Starring Janhvi Kapoor as an IFS officer entangled in a dangerous conspiracy, the film features Roshan Mathew as the male lead, along with powerhouse performers like Gulshan Devaiah, Adil Hussain, and Jitendra Joshi. After its theatrical release, Ulajh debuted at #1 on Netflix India’s charts, stayed in the platform’s Top 10 for a full month, and even made it to Netflix’s Global Top 10 charts for Non-English language films—proving Saria’s ability to deliver a compelling thriller with worldwide appeal. - Loev – A Landmark in Queer Cinema
A poignant queer road-trip romance, Loev is one of Saria’s most celebrated works. Starring Shiv Panditt and Dhruv Ganesh, the film gained critical acclaim at prestigious festivals like SXSW, Tallinn Black Nights, Frameline, Mumbai Film Festival, and BFI Flare. Its emotional depth and nuanced storytelling eventually caught the attention of Netflix, which acquired it for an exclusive worldwide release—solidifying its place as a groundbreaking piece of Indian cinema. - Knock Knock Knock – A National Award-Winning Psychological Drama
Written and directed by Saria, Knock Knock Knock is a psychological thriller that explores human connection through a cryptic and deeply moving narrative. The story follows two strangers who cross paths in Darjeeling—one, a middle-aged man obsessed with patterns, and the other, a teenage boy who shares the same fixation. Starring Shantilal Mukherjee and Phuden Sherpa, the film’s unique storytelling earned Saria the National Award for Best Direction in the Non-Feature category.
- Sahiba – A Cinematic Visual Spectacle
Blending music and storytelling, Sahiba is a period film that Saria wrote, directed, edited, and produced as the visual companion to Jasleen Royal’s song. Featuring the mesmerizing chemistry between Vijay Deverakonda and Radhikka Madan, the film transports audiences into an intense, poetic love story. Sahiba became a massive sensation, topping the Spotify India charts at #1, entering the Global Spotify charts, and continuing to trend in YouTube’s Top 100 with over 60 million views—proving Saria’s mastery in crafting emotionally resonant visuals. - Big Girls Don’t Cry – A Refreshing Young Adult Drama
Stepping into long-form storytelling, Saria served as showrunner, co-writer, and co-director for Big Girls Don’t Cry (BGDC), an Amazon Prime Video series set in an all-girls boarding school. The show beautifully explores themes of friendships, rivalries, identity, and self-discovery. With Saria directing the pilot and finale episodes, BGDC offers a raw, coming-of-age narrative that perfectly showcases his knack for creating deeply relatable characters and emotionally charged moments.
