Life in the city moves fast; too fast. Between the morning rush, the hurried meals, and the late-night scrolls through dating apps, it's easy to mistake busyness for connection. But when the noise dies down, and when you're left alone in your tiny apartment the loneliness creeps in. Wingman, directed by Anuj Gulati, taps into this urban solitude with a mix of humour, heartbreak, and quiet reflection. It’s a film that understands the contradiction of city life — being surrounded by millions, yet feeling like you’re stranded on an island.
The star of this melancholic comedy is Omi (Shashank Arora), a call centre agent at a dating service. Ironically, he spends his days helping strangers find love while his own romantic life is stuck in a loop of nostalgia and self-inflicted isolation. His ex-girlfriend has moved on, but he hasn’t. Instead of seeking real companionship, he clings to memories and bad habits — like constantly asking strangers for a spare cigarette, despite supposedly trying to quit. The cigarettes, which he smokes throughout the film, become more than just a vice; they are a metaphor for human connection — something he craves but can’t quite embrace.
Omi’s journey through the city is filled with encounters that should, in theory, tether him to the world around him. The sanitation worker, the auto driver, the quiet co-worker he shares smokes with, even the yoga group in his neighborhood park — these are people who offer him a sense of community, but he just can’t seem to let them in. Even when a new romantic possibility enters his life, his reflex is to push her away, caught in the comfort of his loneliness rather than risking the vulnerability of true connection. It’s these small moments that Wingman builds upon, portraying how isolation is often not just a state of being, but a choice we make without realizing it.
The film doesn’t take a heavy-handed approach to Omi’s struggles. Instead, it packages them in quirky humour and slice-of-life absurdity. There’s something so sad about Omi’s existence that you can’t help but laugh. His awkward charm, the deadpan deliveries, and the irony of his job as a dating call centre agent who can't seem to have a relationship of his own become the comedic relief. “WingMan originated from my curiosity about exploring loneliness through comedy, also inspired by my own experiences in Mumbai. The story evolved from a tale of isolation into a journey of self-discovery and self-love. It also dwells on how the youth often search for love in the wrong places. With a crew that connected deeply to the theme, we brought authenticity and heart to every detail. I’m excited for audiences to experience the film and hopefully reflect on their own lives", shares the director.
The symbols throughout the film quietly shape the narrative. The cigarette is the most telling — Omi is always asking for one, never having his own, as if constantly seeking something from others that he cannot provide for himself. Then there’s the neon smiley face at the bar, glowing in the background as he stares at it, lost in thought. It becomes a silent question — what does happiness really look like, and is it ever within reach? A shoe, left behind in his car by a potential romantic interest, could have been a reason to meet again, a chance at something new. But by the end, it has been repurposed as an ashtray for a homeless man, turning what could have been a new beginning into just another discarded object. His routine — cycling between work, the bar, and home repeats like clockwork, reinforcing the idea that life often moves in loops. No matter how much he observes, reflects, or even stumbles upon moments of realization, everything unfolds within the same cycle, making it clear that change can only come from within.
Anuj Gulati's directorial debut, Wingman is a conversation-starter on the nature of modern relationships, and loneliness as the human condition. It relies on the absurdity of existence to make its despair palatable and paints a realistic picture of happiness and connection which is fleeting; like a shared cigarette.
The film has been selected at the inaugural edition of the National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) which is taking place from February 13 to March 2, 2025, across multiple cities, including Sydney and Melbourne.
Follow Anuj here and watch the trailer for Wingman below:
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