TV writer makes directorial web debut with 'Chinese Bhasad'

Television writer Saurabh Tewari, who has penned shows like "Madhubala" and "Rangrasiya", starring Drashti Dhami and Sanaya Irani respectively will make his directorial debut with a web series titled "Chinese Bhasad".

Music composer Amit Trivedi, who has churned out hits like "Shaam shaandaar", "Suno aisha" and "Pashmina" is the composer of the title track of the series.

"Chinese Bhasad" tells the tale of Major Badrinath Tripathi, who hates everything made in China. Even 56 years later, he hasn't forgotten how his two-minute visit to the loo cost him his entire squadron during the Indo-China war. Today his grandson arrives back in India with a Chinese girl, who he wants to take as his bride.

Tewari says he came up with the idea six years back, when his brother decided to marry a Chinese girl.

"I had been tossing with the idea of making a feature film or web series out of it," Tewari said in a statement.

The writer says that the series is "very relevant" to today's socio-political scenario.

"The series is not just a simple family based cross-border love story, rather it's very relevant to today's socio-political scenario in regards to India-China relationship," he added.

The entire series was shot on a shoestring budget in 24 days at live locations in Lucknow and "nothing on the created sets".

"This just brought in the required life in the series. Since I belong to the region, I managed to capture the required essence, dialect and characters of the place. This added to the flavour in the series," Tewari added.

The show will feature weekly episodes on VOOT, a digital venture by Viacom18.