Latest news with #KaranTejpal
India Today
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Karan Tejpal's 'Stolen'
The journey from apathy to empathy is a fraught one in Karan Tejpal's debut film, Stolen, which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Inspired by the horrific events in Karbi Anglong in Assam, in which two young men mistaken for being child kidnappers were lynched by a mob, Tejpal crafts a survival drama that pushes the anxiety buttons and touches on many pertinent issues afflicting society today.
Buzz Feed
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Critics Are Calling This Indian Thriller Raw, Relentless, And Unmissable
Stolen is the new Indian thriller that's quickly becoming one of the most talked-about releases of the year. Directed by Karan Tejpal and starring Abhishek Banerjee in a tense, layered performance, the film is backed by producers like Anurag Kashyap and Kiran Rao. It had its global premiere at the Venice Film Festival before landing on Prime Video, and it hasn't stopped making waves since. Set largely at a remote railway station in rural India, the film follows two brothers who witness a baby being kidnapped, only to find themselves blamed for it. As the situation spirals and a mob gathers, the movie dives headfirst into questions of fear, class, and how quickly things fall apart when facts don't matter. Here's why Stolen has critics and viewers calling it one of the most urgent Indian films in recent memory: Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times Abhishek Srivastava, Entertainment Times Rahul Desai, Hollywood Reporter India Rashmi Vasudeva, Deccan Herald Sajin Shrijith, The Week Rachit Gupta, Filmfare Nandini Ramnath, Scroll Gaurang Chauhan, MensXP Stolen is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
India.com
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Abhishek Banerjee's ‘Stolen' Trends In India And US, Celebrated For Story-Driven Success
New Delhi: In a cinematic landscape often dominated by big-budget spectacles, Abhishek Banerjee's thriller "Stolen" has emerged as a surprising success, securing a spot in the Top 10 trending films on Prime Video in both India and the United States. This content-driven thriller has resonated with viewers worldwide, earning widespread acclaim for its gripping storyline and powerful performances. Its popularity continues to soar, fueled by genuine word-of-mouth and positive chatter on social media. A source from the production team stated, "In times when the discourse heavily centers around big-budget, high-octane entertainers, it's heartening to see a film like 'Stolen' find its footing and succeed purely on the merit of its story and performances. The response has exceeded our expectations, both in India and internationally." Lead actor Abhishek Banerjee, who has received praise for his performance, expressed his gratitude: "I'm overwhelmed. We made 'Stolen' with a lot of honesty, and to see it trending at the top and being loved so widely is incredibly emotional. It's a great moment for audiences who are celebrating good cinema, regardless of scale. It gives hope to storytellers like us." Ahead of its launch, Prime Video hosted an exclusive screening of the investigative crime thriller in Mumbai. Attendees responded enthusiastically, commending "Stolen" for its authentic storytelling, nuanced writing, and strong performances. Also Read | 'Stolen' FIRST Review Out: Celebs Praises Karan Tejpal's Directorial Debut, Calls It 'Raw, Hard-hitting' The film is led by executive producers Anurag Kashyap, Kiran Rao, Nikkhil Advani, and Vikramaditya Motwane. Directed by Karan Tejpal and produced by Gaurav Dhingra, "Stolen" is a Jungle Book Studio production. Written by Tejpal alongside Dhingra and Swapnil Salkar, "Stolen" features a talented cast, including Abhishek Banerjee, Harish Khanna, Mia Maelzer, Sahidur Rahaman, and Shubham Vardhan in key roles. "Stolen" is set to premiere on Prime Video on June 4.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Stolen director Karan Tejpal says films with 'good person doing good things and winning' are boring: 'We are all flawed'
Director Karan Tejpal's Stolen has finally found its way to reach the Indian audiences. Two years after it won viewers over in film festivals across the world, the film is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. In a chat with HT ahead of the release, the debutant director opened up about his filmmaking choices and more. Stolen stars Abhishek Banerjee as an urban man accused of stealing a baby from a railway platform, and how he and his brother are embroiled in a situation from which there is no escape. Interestingly, the film chooses Abhishek's Gautam, the more morally ambiguous character, as the protagonist. The younger brother, Raman (played by Shubham Vardhan), is more morally upright, but not the central character. Explaining that choice, Karan says, 'That is a more dramatic story to tell, and hence, you are drawn to it more naturally. If you tell a story about a good person who does really good things and then wins at the end, it may be slightly boring.' Connecting the choice to relatability, the sophomore filmmaker says, "Why we wanted to tell a story about a flawed character is because all of us are flawed, whether we accept it or not. In our private thoughts, we are extremely flawed, which is why we relate to such characters. Almost all filmmakers want to start with a flawed or under duress character so you can build from there." In an age when small independent films with offbeat subjects are struggling to find audiences, Karan chose Stolen for his debut. When asked why, he shrugs and says, "I just knew this one way to go. So, it's not like there was any choice for me." Stolen, backed by Anurag Kashyap, Nikkhil Advani, Kiran Rao, and Vikramaditya Motwane, is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Deccan Herald
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
'Stolen' movie review: Thriller asking tough questions
'Stolen', Karan Tejpal's debut film, has already been featured in several global film festivals, including at Venice, where it premiered in 2023 to a standing ovation and the Beijing International Film Festival in China in 2024, where it won big.
