Urf(2022)
Lookalikes are as much part of Indian popular cinema’s romance with stardom as the super celebrities they – sometimes more and sometimes less – resemble. The Juniors, as they’re popularly referred to, live a paradoxical existence all of their own: if one meets Kishore Bhanushali on the streets, it's like time is out of joint, for he looks like Golden Age-icon Dev Anand – in the 1960s! It’s fitting that Bhanushali is also a stand-up comedian, as the Juniors are in equal parts paeans to and parodies of the original stars. The Juniors even have their own films, which are often satirical revisions of beloved classics.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 25 January 2022
- Director
- Geetika Narang Abbasi
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
Storyline
This documentary explores the world of Indian celebrity lookalikes, known as "Juniors." They lead a strange life, both celebrating and mocking the famous stars they resemble. Some even star in their own satirical movie remakes.
“When the copy becomes the star.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film's director, Geetika Narang Abbasi, is also a film scholar and archivist, bringing an academic perspective to the documentary.
- Kishore Bhanushali, the Dev Anand lookalike featured, is known for his live comedy acts where he impersonates the veteran actor.
- The documentary explores a subculture of 'Junior' actors who often star in low-budget tribute or parody films of Bollywood classics.
- It includes lookalikes of stars from different eras, like the 1960s and the 1990s, showing how this phenomenon spans generations.
- The film was screened at international documentary festivals, including the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).
- Unlike many documentaries about mainstream stars, this film focuses on the fringe, often unseen performers in the industry's ecosystem.
- Some 'Juniors' have faced legal issues for allegedly misusing the names or likenesses of the original stars in their films.