Filmmaker Rahi Anil Barve recently shared an extensive note on social media reflecting on his experimental AI-assisted film, MANN-PISHACH, describing the successes, failures, and lessons learned from creating cinema with minimal resources and maximum innovation.
In his note, Barve wrote: "MANN-PISHACH - Final Result of this strange experiment: This experiment holds a clear message for those who wish to make such films in the future. You cannot make a film just by throwing 'prompts' at AI. The method used is older, much like stop-motion: It just accurately describes the pre-decided elements second-by-second, that is for sure. Most importantly—perhaps this old-school stop-motion technique could be the key that truly unlocks this technology.
Now important: This experiment did not work for most people. This isn't an opinion; the raw data says so. The film received roughly 2.2 million impressions. Out of those, 2s lakh (280,000) people clicked on it. Meaning, there was curiosity. The CTR is almost 12%, but what happened after clicking is what matters. The average viewer drops off at around 8 to 8.5 minutes, and the film is 80 minutes long. That's around a 10% completion rate. And initially, almost half the people leave immediately. It's a straight pattern: people come & watch a bit & many leave & a few proceed. Why do they leave? The same reasons repeat: visuals constantly morph, faces don't stay consistent, movements feel a bit off. There isn't a single moment where you can completely 'forget yourself' and just watch.
Surprisingly, there is a small group that stays (12-15%). For them, this isn't a 'film' but an 'experience.' They talk about the atmosphere, the meaning, the symbolism, the restlessness. It's not that they find the visuals perfect, but they tolerate them. Reactions are divided into two extremes: one group outright rejects it—'feels fake,' 'is lifeless,' 'has no soul,' 'not proper cinema.' Some comments are highly aggressive. The second group watches it in a completely different way: they decode it, find meaning, catch the mood. These two groups do not talk to each other.
Despite mixed reactions, YouTube continued recommending the film, and the system apparently found a small niche audience. The experiment shows that a single person, with minimal money, can make a full-length film—but it won't necessarily grip the audience emotionally. AI can provide continuity and movement, but not emotional depth.
For future AI filmmakers: a slow start is unaffordable, simplicity is critical, and the screenplay must grip viewers immediately. AI is a tool to accelerate execution, not a replacement for writing, shot design, or timing. The real value lies in pre-visualization, complex shot planning, and mood testing. Finally, AI filmmaking may take a personal toll: creators will face isolation and mental fatigue if they do not balance their health and social life. Beware."
MANN-PISHACH is an 80-minute experimental horror film released in March 2026, directed by Rahi Anil Barve of Tumbbad fame. Made on a zero budget of approximately ₹33,000, the film features only two actors—Yaaneea Bhardwaj and Deepak Damle. The story follows junior archaeology officer Sadashiv Rao in June 1990, who travels to the remote village of Hadamgaon to investigate a mysterious stone dome revealed by a landslide.
The production relied heavily on an iPhone for performance footage, hand-drawn storyboards, Photoshop, After Effects, and generative AI to create the visuals. Described as "philosophical horror," the film explores existential unease and human psychology, specifically the idea that suppressed emotions manifest as inner demons (Nihat bhavna pishacha bhavati).
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