Talented Indian filmmakers Shabana Azmi, Ritesh Batra, and Shaunak Sen have lent their support to writer-director Aranya Sahay's Oscar-nominated film "Humans in the Loop", adding a new layer of prestige to its awards season push. The three Indian cinema icons have joined forces as executive producers on the feature, which tells the story of a woman from an indigenous community in rural India whose job involves educating machine learning systems.
Sahay's narrative delves into the intersection of traditional wisdom and technological advancement, with the protagonist's work likened to nurturing a child. The project's structure is built around three chapters that explore how human experience complements technological progress. The film's origins date back to a news story and took shape during Sahay's residency at the Museum of Imagined Futures.
Batra, director of the acclaimed "The Lunchbox", highlighted the film's empathetic tone, stating: "What moved me about 'Humans in the Loop' is its tenderness... It listens closely to the people inside them, their pauses, their compromises, and their need to be seen." Azmi praised the accessible storytelling, describing it as "a beautiful story told very simply with a heart" that makes viewers sensitive to the world's issues.
Sen, whose critically acclaimed "All That Breathes" won at Sundance and Cannes and was Oscar-nominated, noted the film's philosophical dimension: "Humans in the Loop is attentive to the quiet spaces where technology meets lived experience. Rather than offering answers, it stays with the ethical uncertainty of technological progress." Director Shekhar Kapur also weighed in, emphasizing that the film reminds us of our responsibility to choose between technology and humanity.
The project has garnered support from a diverse network of collaborators, including Bijjo Toppo as executive producer during development, Kiran Rao facilitating the Indian release, and Misaq Kazimi overseeing the American rollout. Film Independent's 2025 Sloan Distribution Grant also went to the production, recognizing its science-focused nature.
As "Humans in the Loop" continues to garner awards buzz, writer-director Sahay is reflecting on the support network that has connected with her film: "I feel deeply honored that artists whose work has inspired me have connected with this film." With Netflix releasing the film in November and staged discussion events exploring artificial intelligence and indigenous perspectives, the project's impact is becoming increasingly evident.
Sahay's narrative delves into the intersection of traditional wisdom and technological advancement, with the protagonist's work likened to nurturing a child. The project's structure is built around three chapters that explore how human experience complements technological progress. The film's origins date back to a news story and took shape during Sahay's residency at the Museum of Imagined Futures.
Batra, director of the acclaimed "The Lunchbox", highlighted the film's empathetic tone, stating: "What moved me about 'Humans in the Loop' is its tenderness... It listens closely to the people inside them, their pauses, their compromises, and their need to be seen." Azmi praised the accessible storytelling, describing it as "a beautiful story told very simply with a heart" that makes viewers sensitive to the world's issues.
Sen, whose critically acclaimed "All That Breathes" won at Sundance and Cannes and was Oscar-nominated, noted the film's philosophical dimension: "Humans in the Loop is attentive to the quiet spaces where technology meets lived experience. Rather than offering answers, it stays with the ethical uncertainty of technological progress." Director Shekhar Kapur also weighed in, emphasizing that the film reminds us of our responsibility to choose between technology and humanity.
The project has garnered support from a diverse network of collaborators, including Bijjo Toppo as executive producer during development, Kiran Rao facilitating the Indian release, and Misaq Kazimi overseeing the American rollout. Film Independent's 2025 Sloan Distribution Grant also went to the production, recognizing its science-focused nature.
As "Humans in the Loop" continues to garner awards buzz, writer-director Sahay is reflecting on the support network that has connected with her film: "I feel deeply honored that artists whose work has inspired me have connected with this film." With Netflix releasing the film in November and staged discussion events exploring artificial intelligence and indigenous perspectives, the project's impact is becoming increasingly evident.
I'm loving how much buzz is around "Humans in the Loop" right now! It's like, you can feel the passion behind this film, ya know? The fact that Shabana Azmi, Ritesh Batra, and Shaunak Sen are on board as executive producers is a big deal - they're all legends in Indian cinema for a reason. 
And I love how the script delves into these complex themes about technology and humanity. It's like, we need more stories that explore the ethics of AI and how it impacts our daily lives. The fact that Bijjo Toppo, Kiran Rao, and Misaq Kazimi are all involved in different aspects of the film is a testament to its global appeal. 
I'm also stoked to see Netflix releasing this on their platform - it's going to be interesting to see how audiences respond to it! 
But at the same time, I'm still curious to see how it'll translate outside of India. The international release is going to be interesting, esp with Netflix throwing its weight behind it 
I'm not sure if this film answers all the questions we need to be asking ourselves. It's like... are we just going through the motions, trying to make technology work for us without truly understanding its implications on our existence? The fact that these filmmakers, with their own experiences and perspectives, have come together to create something like "Humans in the Loop" is actually quite beautiful 
... it's a reminder that there's still space for empathy, for compassion, for human connection in this wild ride we call life.
. It shows that there's still room for empathy and understanding in our world amidst all the tech advancements 
. The fact that they're highlighting the importance of human experience over technology is really refreshing 
. Can't wait to see how it does on Netflix 
I mean, it's great that these Indian filmmakers are getting recognition for their work, but what's the real point of all this? Is it just to make them feel good about themselves? And why did they have to join forces as executive producers? Sounds like some corporate drama to me... 
I'm so stoked to see these amazing Indian filmmakers like Shabana Azmi, Ritesh Batra, and Shaunak Sen lending their support to Aranya Sahay's Oscar-nominated film "Humans in the Loop"! It's like, this film is literally breaking barriers by exploring the intersection of traditional wisdom and tech advancement 
. And with Batra describing it as having a "tender tone" that listens closely to people's stories, I'm sure it's going to tug at viewers' heartstrings 
. The fact that Film Independent gave Sahay's project a Sloan Distribution Grant also speaks volumes about its science-focused nature 
. I'm rooting for this film all the way! 
The fact that they're executive producers is a major win for the film's credibility. And can we talk about how amazing it is that this movie explores the intersection of traditional wisdom and tech advancement? 
What do you guys think about this new Oscar contender?
and what makes it special is that its based on a real news story? thats not entirely new, right? 
also im not convinced by the "intersection of traditional wisdom and technological advancement" angle... doesnt sound like anything we haven't heard before 
but hey, i guess its good to have some indian cinema folk on board as exec producers, that's a nice nod to diversity 
! It's like, totally awesome that Shabana Azmi, Ritesh Batra, and Shaunak Sen are on board as exec producers, you know? 
. The way they describe the story as "tender" and "beautifully told" is giving me feels 
! The fact that Film Independent gave them a Sloan Distribution Grant is major 
. I'm excited to see how "Humans in the Loop" plays out on Netflix - it's going to be a wild ride 
its just another movie about tech and humans, right? i mean dont get me wrong, the writers are all super talented but is it really that groundbreaking? the whole "tech meets humanity" thing has been done before and im not convinced its gonna change the game. plus, what's with the awards season push? isnt it just a way for filmmakers to pad their resume? 
i mean paul hollywood was so harsh but in a good way, right? 
anyway back to this film, i think it's so cool that they're making movies about machines learning stuff... has anyone tried one of those newfangled smart glasses that can recognize faces? 
my cousin got one and it's kinda trippy, like having a tiny computer staring at you all day
just saw this and thought it was so cool how these talented Indian filmmakers are supporting each other and Aranya Sahay's film 
. Like, it's all about the intersection of traditional wisdom and tech progress and I'm intrigued to see how they're gonna explore that 
And I'm loving how they're highlighting the intersection of traditional wisdom and tech advancement... it's like, we need more stories that explore the human side of all this AI stuff 
. I'm not sure if anyone else has seen this yet, but I'd love to hear more thoughts on it from others 
can't wait to watch this film and see what the world thinks of it 
. The way they highlight the intersection of traditional wisdom and technological advancement is so thought-provoking, it really makes you think about our responsibilities as humans towards technology 
... she loves those puzzle books that challenge your brain, you know? Anyway, "Humans in the Loop" sounds super interesting - I mean, who wouldn't want to learn more about indigenous communities and AI?