AI-fighters take centre stage in Pranav Bhasin’s Oscar-qualified We Were Here

Pranav Bhasin's Oscar-qualified short film, We Were Here, explores themes of Artificial Intelligence (AI), job insecurity, and the fear of becoming obsolete. The story begins with the absurd image of a man standing on his rooftop pretending to be a dish antenna, a protest against technology. Inspired by this image and his father's job insecurity, Bhasin wrote and directed the 10-minute mockumentary about three retired men living in an Indian town who protest against AI taking over human jobs.

They adopt disguises as household appliances: Bagchi as a dish antenna, Ganguly as a vehicle's reverse camera, and Pimple as a microwave. The film, which has won several international awards, is currently in the Oscar campaign and awaits its chance at the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Bhasin, who grew up seeing his father work tirelessly in news camerawork, witnessed the impact of AI on job security firsthand.

This personal experience influenced the film's creation, which tells the story through the lens of a mockumentary format, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The film's cast and crew include actors Andrew Scott and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, as well as playwright-author V (formerly Eve Ensler). Their support for the film, both as executive producers and viewers, has been instrumental in its progress.