The teaser of September 21, starring Priyanka Upendra, is out, offering a glimpse into an intimate, emotionally charged story around Alzheimer’s disease. Directed by 22-year-old Karun Kshiti Suvarna, this Hindi film focuses on the quiet, often unseen struggles of those living with the condition and the people who care for them.
Priyanka plays the primary caregiver, while Praveen Singh Sisodia essays a man grappling with Alzheimer’s. The teaser leans into stillness rather than spectacle, capturing the disorientation, memory loss, and emotional strain that come with the illness. It also reflects the toll it takes on families, who navigate the condition every day.
The team describes the film as an attempt to make audiences feel, rather than just watch. There is a conscious effort to avoid melodrama, allowing the characters and their circumstances to unfold with restraint. Priyanka’s performance, in particular, is said to be one of her most understated, relying on silences and small gestures instead of dramatic highs.
Speaking about her approach, Karun says she wanted viewers to experience the emotional weight carried by families dealing with Alzheimer’s, without dressing it up in cinematic excess. The focus, she notes, was always on honesty.
The film also features senior actors like Zarina Wahab, Amit Behl, Ajit Shidhaye, Sachin Patekar, and Ricky Rudra in key roles.
September 21 is jointly produced by Humara Movie, Visika Films, and FMD Productions, with co-production by Films Max. The project also has an international touch, with actor Frederic de Vaux coming on board as co-producer. The screenplay is written by Rajshekhar, and the music is composed by Vinay Chandra.
The film has already been showcased in the Work-in-Progress section at the International Film Festival of India, where it drew attention for its sensitive handling of the subject. It is currently slated for a May release.
