Known for its gripping narratives rooted in realism, Natak Pictures surprises audiences with a stunning detour from its usual fare, unveiling its latest short film, “Dohra” — a genre-defying sci-fi story set in a semi-rural backdrop that explores the fragmented layers of reality and perception in the digital age.

Written and directed by Rahul Bhatnagar, “Dohra” is an experience that plays with the idea of parallel realities, tech dependency, and the breaking bridge between our virtual and real lives. The film opens with a young woman Kavita (played by Aditi Pathik) jolting awake as a newlywed bride in a modest, semi-rural household. She has no recollection of how she got there and everything around her—including her own reflection—appears “flipped,” as if she were trapped inside a mirror. The only thing tethering her to her past life is her phone, which seems completely out of place in this world—and remains inexplicably discharged.

Scared, angry, and perpetually clashing with her new husband Birju (played by Yogesh Soni), a simple man trying to make sense of her distress, the woman spirals into confusion. In a moment of quiet compassion, Birju makes the ultimate decision: to send her back to where she belongs. All it takes is a radio, the sound of static, and the symbolic return of her phone. But when she wakes up again—this time in a world that feels “just right,” modern and familiar—she assumes it was all just a bad dream. That is, until eerie cues from her new-world husband Sameer (played by Vikram Bhui) suggest otherwise.

“Dohra”, shot aesthetically by Sunaina Singh (cinematographer), is a striking metaphor for how our obsession with the digital world has created a disconnect from reality, eroding our capacity for presence, contentment, and empathy. The film subtly critiques the compulsive need for control and perfection through devices that were once meant to empower us, but now consume us.

Rahul Bhatnagar, the mind behind the film, shares, “In a world where attention spans have dropped to seconds and people are perpetually chasing the next notification, ‘Dohra’ reflects the cost of being virtually present but emotionally absent. It’s sci-fi, yes—but the kind that looks inward.”

Blending speculative fiction with rural realism, the film is rich in atmosphere and peculiarity, inviting viewers to question the blurry lines between dimensions—both physical and psychological.“Dohra” is now available on Natak Pictures’ official YouTube channel and streaming platforms.