Directed by Vijesh Rajan and Yashoda Parthasarthy, the 24-minute short film Aakhri Ride offers an engaging, genre-bending experiment that seamlessly blends social satire, dark comedy, and anti-horror.
Starring Chandan Roy, the film follows Aman, a desperate Mumbai cab driver struggling to raise Rs 150,000 for his sister’s dowry while dealing with an exploitative boss.
Pushing to his limit, Aman connects with a scammer friend who advises him to sell his cab to a car thief on the city outskirts. However, his final trip takes a bizarre turn when he picks up a passenger resembling a witch, complete with talons, a black face, and a shrieky voice.
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Rather than leaning into pure horror, Aakhri Ride uses frivolous comedy to examine societal prejudices and the harsh realities faced by gig workers. Chandan Roy delivers an exceptionally earnest performance, grounding the character’s helplessness and desperation without turning him into a mere object of pity.
The single-night narrative, combined with tight inside-the-cab camera framing and subtle music, creates a crisp sense of urgency. Executed with logical honesty, Aakhri Ride delivers bite-sized, sermon-free entertainment that makes it well worth watching.
