From Connection to Creation: How The Kusp sparked “Simples”

Some connections stay as conversations. Others grow into something much bigger.

For Soham and Kanhaiya, their journey began at a Kusp event, a simple introduction that would go on to shape their creative paths in ways they couldn’t have predicted.

Kanhaiya and Soham

“We first met at one of their events... we connected almost immediately, talking about films and what it meant to be part of a space like The Kusp.”

What started as a conversation didn’t end there. Over time, that meeting turned into an ongoing exchange of sharing work, ideas, and reflections on what it means to build a part of this industry. Slowly, that connection evolved into collaboration.

Now, they are making their first feature film together: Simples

A Story Built Over Time

Simples didn’t appear overnight. It grew out of years of dialogue, experimentation, and creative trust.

“In a way, Simples comes directly out of that period... a continuation of those early conversations.”

Set in contemporary Bombay, the film explores the emotional psychology of escape. Following characters navigating ambition, identity, and the weight of wanting to leave home. It’s a story rooted in urgency, shaped by real experiences, and reflective of a wider generational feeling.

“What drew us to this story was a feeling of growing anxiety among Indians to leave our country, that goes beyond the idea of better opportunities abroad. It comes from a kind of exhaustion that builds slowly from governance and the dignity of life.”

The Role of Community

At the centre of this journey is something simple, but often overlooked: community.

“[The Kusp] became a place where you could bring everything, your work, your doubts, your fears, and speak about them openly.”

— Soham Kundu

For both Soham and Kanhaiya, The Kusp wasn’t just where they met, it was the environment that allowed their connection to grow.

That openness, that continuity, and that shared space to grow is exactly what The Kusp is built to create. A place where creatives can meet, stay in conversation, and evolve alongside one another.

Soham and Alessandro (The Kusp Script Reading workshop)

The Next Step

Today, Simples is entering its next phase and they’re inviting the community that helped shape it to be a part of what comes next.

The film is currently in development, with casting underway and a growing team forming around it. To bring it to life, Soham and Kanhaiya have launched a Kickstarter campaign, an opportunity for others to support the project and become part of its journey.

“Beyond funding, it represents a kind of collective belief in the project... people choosing to feel part of its making.”

— Soham Kundu

Be Part of the Journey

If you’d like to support the film and be part of its journey, you can find the campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simples/simples-a-hyper-indie-feature-film-set-in-bombay
Check out their website: https://simplesthefilm.com/
Or get in touch: simplesthefilm@gmail.com

Words by Ivy Atem (Community Specialist Intern), Quotes from Soham Kundu