industry driven by spectacle, where budgets are mistaken for storytelling, Silent Lies arrives as a quiet revolution. Rooted in emotion and crafted with sincerity, it is a film that speaks volumes not through dialogue, but through silence.
This independently produced short film has stirred hearts not just for its narrative, but for how it was made. With no budget, no studio, and no big names, just raw intent, deep belief, and a tribe that refused to give up. It is not just a film. It’s a testament to the resilience of creativity.
A Thought That Took Root
Six months ago, Aaradhya Korgaonkar, then known for light-hearted Instagram content, was caught in the rhythm of reels and comedy sketches when a quiet thought took hold, delicate, emotional, unshaped. He shared it with his friend Om Bidwadkar in passing. Om didn’t shrug it off. He gave it shape.
Aaradhya paused everything, content, distractions,and his routine. What followed was a period of months spent writing and rewriting. The story became a deeply intimate narrative about Aisha, a deaf and mute girl whose silence becomes the loudest voice in the film.
The Challenge of Stillness
With Aisha never uttering a word, the writing leaned entirely on non-verbal emotion. The screenplay was built on silences, glances, and atmospheres. The real test was to ensure that the absence of sound didn't become a void but rather, a space filled with meaning.
And it worked. The absence of dialogue became the film’s emotional engine.
The Eye That Brought Vision
After completing the script, Aaradhya brought on Raj Panchal as Director of Photography a decision he calls his best. Raj didn’t just frame scenes he captured what was felt but unseen. With a natural, grounded style, Raj elevated the emotional tone of the film, using Mumbai’s chaotic beauty to tell a quiet story.
More than a cinematographer, Raj became a co-creator. Every frame, light cue, and shot choice was built together. He gave the film its eyes. Aaradhya gave it its soul.
Together, they shaped Silent Lies.
A Film Without a Set Or a Budget
This is not a low-budget film. It is a zero-budget film.
Silent Lies was shot entirely on location, real, uncontrolled, noisy, unpredictable. Mumbai became both the backdrop and the challenge. With no studio lights or sets, the crew worked amidst crowds and chaos, finding calm in the noise.
Convincing people to work for free was its battle. Many said no, understandably. But some said yes. Those few helped build something unforgettable.
The Performances That Grounded It
Krisha Gaikwad as Aisha delivered a deeply internal performance, relying entirely on her eyes and presence. It wasn’t about delivering lines, it was about being. She carried the emotional gravity of the film with grace.
Ritesh Suryavanshi joined at the last minute to play Ayaan, bringing warmth and authenticity. He wasn’t part of the original cast but became an essential part of the film’s chemistry.
A Brotherhood Behind the Lens
Behind Aaradhya stood a group of unwavering friends who stepped in, not because of the script, but because of him:
- Pratham Kanse
- Pratik Jadhav
- Priyanshu Pandhare
- Pranav Sawant
- Soham Ghag
- Kirtan Chaurasiya
They skipped college, personal commitments, and their comfort zones. When Aaradhya asked, they didn’t hesitate. “Tu bol raha hai na? Toh karenge.” That kind of faith is rare. And it carried this film forward.
Shot in Sweat, Edited with Heart
The shoot spanned nearly six weeks. Every scene was carved out in public spaces, with zero margin for error. Post-production took around 25 days — a phase where Aaradhya and Raj spent sleepless nights polishing every detail.
There were no shortcuts. No incentives. Just belief.
The Unexpected Reaction
When the film was finally released, expectations were modest. A few views. A couple of kind words. But what followed was overwhelming.
Audiences flooded Aaradhya’s inbox. Stories were shared. Viewers watched twice, once for the plot, once for the silences. Some said it reminded them of pain they’d buried. Others called it one of the most honest pieces of cinema they’d seen in a long time.
Silent Lies struck something rare: resonance.
Lessons From a Whisper
This film is proof that:
- You don’t need money to make meaningful cinema.
- All you need is obsession and a team that believes.
- Silence, when wielded right, can scream louder than words.
- A story worth telling always finds a way.
Aaradhya doesn’t claim this film as his own. It belongs to everyone who stood beside him. Even those who said no, because they made space for those who said yes.
Looking Ahead
More stories will be told. More experiments will be tried. But Silent Lies will always be sacred, not for its perfection, but for its purity.
It began with a quiet idea. It became a film.
Now, it’s becoming a moment in India’s indie movement.
Because in a world too loud, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do… is listen.
