This article looks at Samir Zaidi’s debut short film 'Two Sinners', a psychological drama that examines guilt, forgiveness, and moral ambiguity through the story of two brothers seeking retribution in an Indian forest. Executive produced by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film has been selected as India’s only live-action entry at the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025, featuring Shardul Bhardwaj, Deipak Sampat, Baharul Islam, and Aditi Sivaraman.
Questions about guilt, forgiveness, and what it means to take justice into one’s own hands have always been the pillars of the nature of morality. Is there anything righteousness about rage? Is something Samir Zaidi’s new debut short 'Two Sinners' explores through a story about retribution. Set in the stillness of an Indian forest, the film follows Azhar, played by Shardul Bhardwaj, as he’s coerced by his elder brother into confronting the man responsible for their sister’s assault.
An exploration of how vengeance seeps into the human soul and distorts our understanding of right or wrong, the film has been selected as India’s only live-action entry at the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival in the UK this November. Presented and executive produced by Vishal Bhardwaj, and with compelling performances from Deipak Sampat, Baharul Islam, and Aditi Sivaraman, 'Two Sinners' challenges the audiences to navigate the blurred boundaries between a victim and perpetrator.
“Two Sinners began as an attempt to confront the questions we often push away- about justice, revenge, and what happens when violence takes root in us. I’ve always been interested in the spaces between right and wrong, where human choices become messy and real."Samir Zaidi
Samir Zaidi is a filmmaker, published poet and a multidisciplinary artist based in Mumbai. Drawing from his diverse heritage- being born to a Muslim father and Hindu mother, with roots belonging to the small town of Unnao, Samir bravely confronts and processes his experiences through his films and art. Before his directorial debut 'Two Sinners', Zaidi worked as Creative Producer on 'Sacred Games' (Season 2) and assisted directors like Anurag Kashyap, Anubhav Sinha, and Dibakar Banerjee.
Vishal Bhardwaj calls 'Two Sinners' “a compelling and deeply personal film that reflects Samir’s unique voice and vision.” Having worked with Zaidi over the years, Bhardwaj describes witnessing his growth as a filmmaker dedicated to exploring “complex human emotions and morally intricate narratives.” He is a filmmaker known for his own examinations of violence and morality standing behind a new voice unafraid to question both.
Follow Samir here.
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