ZEE5, the world’s leading streaming platform for South Asian content, is set to premiere the much-anticipated noir thriller Kennedy in February, bringing Anurag Kashyap’s 28th directorial venture to audiences after it made a strong impact on the international film festival circuit. Zee Studios presents a Good Bad Films production, Kennedy stars Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone.
The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight Screenings section and has since been showcased at numerous global festivals — including the Sydney International Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (South Korea), Neuch?tel International Fantastic Film Festival (Switzerland), MOTELX – Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, Indie Meme Film Festival (Austin, Texas), Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, London Indian Film Festival, Fantastic Fest (USA), the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, and the Kolkata International Film Festival, among others.
Written during the lockdown and shot extensively across the nights of Mumbai over a tight 30-day schedule, Kennedy is a dark, atmospheric thriller that follows an insomniac ex-cop long presumed dead who continues to operate within a corrupt system while secretly searching for redemption. The film’s haunting background score, recorded in Prague with the Prague Philharmonic Choir, further elevates the moody, immersive experience. All set to premiere on ZEE5 Global, the movie brings Anurag Kashyap back to his gritty storytelling roots.
Kaveri Das, Chief Channel Officer &TV and Business Head Hindi ZEE5, said, “At Hindi ZEE5, we’ve been deliberately moving away from formula-driven narratives and investing in stories that are bolder, distinctive, and creatively disruptive. Kennedy is born from that belief, a film that doesn’t play by familiar rules and trusts its audience to engage with something raw and unconventional. Anurag Kashyap’s voice, the film’s neo-noir sensibility, and its journey across global festivals reflect the kind of storytelling we are proud to put out on the floor in Hindi. With Kennedy, we are excited to continue building a slate that expands what Hindi storytelling can look and feel like, while bringing this distinctive cinematic experience to viewers on ZEE5.”
Speaking about the film’s digital premiere, Anurag Kashyap said, “Kennedy was born one night when I couldn’t sleep with all that was going around me. I was alone and I was playing Tchaikovsky loud all over my house and there was whisky and empty A4 size sheets and my pilot V 10 that I write with. I didn’t know what I was writing and it all poured out. I have received love and an extraordinary response from across the world for it and now I’m excited that the film will now reach its home audience as well as a much wider one. I believe they will also like the film as much.”
Ranjan Singh, Producer added, “Kennedy is a film that found its audience across the world even before its release. The festival journey has been incredible and bringing it to ZEE5 now ensures that Indian audiences finally get to experience this powerful story. We are proud of this collaboration with Zee Studios and ZEE5 to present a film that is bold, unconventional and deeply cinematic.”
Umesh Kr Bansal, CBO, ZEE Studios added, “Kennedy represents the kind of bold, uncompromising cinema that Zee Studios has always believed in backing. Collaborating once again with Anurag Kashyap on a film that is so visually striking, emotionally layered and globally celebrated has been immensely rewarding. We are proud to bring this internationally acclaimed title to ZEE5, where audiences across the world can finally experience the power of this extraordinary film.”
Secrets, shadows, and survival—Kennedy premieres on ZEE5 Global this February.
Watch the teaser here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DULU9PHgd0J/?igsh=bGgzbGM0eGwzZnl6
