Meet the misfits of BRAHMAN NAMAN! | Sundance 2016

MEET THE CHARACTERS OF

BRAHMAN NAMAN

World Premiere

Section: World Dramatic Competition

Directed by Q.

Written by Naman Ramachandran

Cast: Shashank Arora, Tanmay Dhanania, Sid Mallya, Vaiswath Shankar, Chaitanya Varad, Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy

We'd like to introduce you to the colorful characters of BRAHMAN NAMAN. It’s the 1980s and Naman (Shashank Arora, star of Cannes hit TITLI) is a know-it-all nerd driven by the whims of his raging hormones. Heading up Bangalore University’s team of bespectacled misfits (best friends Ajay and Ramu), the trio of lusty intellectuals spend the majority of their time on the quizzing circuit, using their winnings to buy nudie magazines, whiskey, and beer, fantasizing about the buxom neighborhood beauty all the while. When the boys qualify for the National Quiz Championships, they make a booze-fuelled train trip across the country determined to defeat their rivals in Calcutta and desperate to lose their virginities along the way.

Unfolding to the tune of the iconic anthem, “Whiskey Bar,” as Naman and his friends run amok against the colorful backdrop of the Indian landscape, his quest for sex and glory is complicated when he finds his intellectual superior in a stunning female quizzer. Directed by Indian filmmaker Q. (known for his controversial cult hit GANDU) BRAHMAN NAMAN is a smart, raucous sex comedy that’s raunchy and endearing in equal measure— replete with innovative masturbation methods that put even Philip Roth’s Alexander Portnoy to shame.

Produced by Steve Barron, director of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1990), CONEHEADS and seminal music videos in the 1980s, directing Michael Jackson’s iconic “Billie Jean” and Aha’s “Take On Me,” among others. He has worked with numerous music legends including David Bowie, Dire Straights, and Madonna. 

AS SEEN ON INDIEWIRE!

NAMAN (SHASHANK ARORA)

An avid quizzer and the captain of Bangalore University’s illustrious and depraved quiz team, Naman is an average Brahman male. His favorite hobbies include drinking, masturbation, quizzing, and masturbation. The son of a rubber factory owner, Naman has not yet had the chance to get his rubber on—oh cruel fate, he’s still a virgin! While awaiting the chance to experience a real vagina, he finds love right in the palm of his own hand—and household items. And pets. And Produce. Favorite expressions include: “cervix with a smile.”

AJAY (TANMAY DHANANIA)

A loyal member of Naman’s posse, Ajay is Naman’s left-hand man on Bangalore University’s quiz team (his right hand is his most loyal lover). A Shakespeare aficionado in stylish spectacles, he excels at scooter-driving, beer-guzzling, and manages to suppress his sexual demons beneath a socially awkward exterior. His definition of love is “physical action over a smart verbal comeback.”

RAMU (CHAITANYA VARAD)

Serving as Naman’s preferred human humping pole, Ramu is a vital member of the quizzing team. Unfortunately for him, his father disapproves of everything he does—not only ogling nudie magazines, but quizzing too. His favorite day of the week is “Coco Panties Day”—the day on which bets are placed hypothesizing over the color of girls’ underwear. Ramu often emerges as a champion on this day. Fact: will sing Rod Stewart’s “Infatuation” upon arousal. 

RANDY (VAISHWARTH SHANKAR)

A fresh recruit from the junior team, Randy is Bangalore University’s newest, gangliest member. After surviving the first round of hazing and gracefully vomiting into a bush, Randy earns his stripes by getting the boys tickets to a porn theater by way of a pervy uncle. Fact: Randy’s name translates to the English word for horny.

RONNIE (SID MALLYA)

While Naman and his friends spend all their time polishing their “pathetic one-liners,” Ronnie is out winning cricket championships—and the attention of all the girls in the class. Handsome, rich, and athletic, much to Naman’s dismay, Ronnie has the full package—and a rather large one at that. Fact: he has never had a bad hair day.

NAINA (ANULA NAVLEKAR)

Naina is everything Naman is looking for in a woman: whip smart, beautiful, female, and Brahman to boot. Captain of the quizzing team from Madras, the two meet on the train from Bangalore to Calcutta and he falls hard for her instantly (he becomes hard for her instantly, too).

RITA (SUBHOLINA SEN)

Within the realm of Naman’s sexual fantasies, Rita’s existence consists entirely of lazing about in pink lingerie while whispering sweet nothings into her golden telephone. She walks not to get from point A to B, but rather so that her breasts may bounce up and down—for Naman’s eyes only, of course. (It would be disrespectful for anyone else to regard his future wife in a sexual manner). 

ASH (SINDHU SREENIVASA MURTHY)

 Bangalore University quiz team’s most underrated groupie, Ash has a heart of gold and a world-class bottom. She puts up with far too much from Naman gaining nothing in return. Fact: she always carries cash in case Naman needs it. 

HENRY (KARTIK IYER)

Bangelore’s answer to Wooderson from Dazed and Confused, Henry is a grown man with the mindset and dialect of a randy teenager. He’s also is the only man Naman knows who has successfully graduated from fornicating with ripe fruits to actual real live women—so what if they’re all prostitutes? Nickname: Henry VIII. Best piece of advice: “When you finish, let go of your dick. Cover your face. Then you watch your dick. It will flick!”

BERNIE (DENZIL SMITH)

  Bangalore University quiz team’s venerated chaperone, Bernie has much wisdom and guidance to offer his gaggle of “harmless, gutless, and feckless” quizzers. Still haunted by the memory of an especially short skirt worn by a girl in his youth, his drink of choice is gin finished with a maraschino cherry. Favorite expressions include: “revel in your supremacy” and “bigoted-shigoted!”

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Country:  India

Language: English

Public Screening #1 (World Premiere): Sunday, January 24, 8:30PM (Prospector Square Theatre)

P&I Screening #1: Monday, January 25, 12:30PM (Holiday Village Cinema 3)

Public Screening #2: Monday, January 25, 6:00PM (Yarrow Hotel Theatre)

Public Screening #3: Tuesday, January 26, 9:45PM (Broadway Centre Cinema 3, SLC)

Public Screening #4: Friday, January 29, 11:30PM (Prospector Square Theatre)

Public Screening #5: Saturday, January 30, 1:00PM (Holiday Village Cinema 4)