Prem Mistry urges a shift in Indian storytelling: We should try and make more stories which are human rather than over-the-top superhero films, Exclusive!

Prem Mistry urges a shift in Indian storytelling: We should try and make more stories which are human rather than over-the-top superhero films

Director Prem Mistry, known for creating relatable youth-centric content, is set to release his upcoming show Lafangey on Amazon MX. Having already made a mark with popular projects like Campus Diaries, TVF Immature, and Life Hill Gayi, Prem is actively building and shaping this genre with authentic stories that resonate deeply with young adults. With Lafangey, he takes his storytelling a step further by exploring the complex realities faced by young adults after college, diving into themes of anxiety, insecurity, and the struggle to find one's path in an uncertain world.

Prem sat down for a candid conversation to discuss Lafangey with Moneycontrol.com, his creative evolution, challenges as a filmmaker, and what he feels the industry truly needs right now.

“So Lafange is primarily about kids… I wouldn’t say kids, about adults now who are passed out from college 3-4 years ago,” Prem explained. “And they are still figuring out their life, figuring out what to do. And at that time, there is insecurity, there is anxiety because our surrounding life has progressed. Where are we going? What will happen to us? Will something happen to us? So when these questions come, that is what Lafange is, which I have not sort of spoken about—the unemployment angle that youth goes through. That is what Lafange is about.”

Prem is no stranger to youth narratives, but Lafange marks a shift in tone and focus from his earlier works.
“My previous shows have been very different from Lafange because those have been primarily college shows where we talk about college politics, addiction during college, one-sided relationships or toxic relationships,” he said.
“That's why those are based about the 5 years you spend in college. But Lafange is not about a universe that you are in. Lafange is about life that everyone has lived. Lafange is about the trials and revelations that one goes through to find and fight for your dream when the societal pressure, the family pressure is trying to weigh you down.”

As a young director with years of experience in digital content, Prem is well aware of the practical and creative challenges that come with the territory.

“When I started my journey into this field, I was grateful to be part of TVS in my earlier years. I was there for a good 7-8 years. So my learnings have been very digital first, OTT or internet content first,” Prem shared. “But when you see the more massy content as we call it, those are more of action films, those are more of big-budget stuff. Eventually, everyone sort of wants to do the big picture stuff. So trying to find that style where you always try to say what you really want to but also make sure that it's massy so that it reaches a lot of people—that has been the most difficult thing.”

This delicate balance between meaningful storytelling and mass appeal is something Prem continues to explore with each new project.

“That is something that every filmmaker goes through after making 4-5 things and eventually you'll find your style and eventually you'll find the right people to collaborate with to put forth the stories you want to say.”
When asked about the kind of content he believes is missing or underrepresented in Indian cinema today, Prem emphasized a shift towards more relatable, grounded narratives.

“I feel we should try and make more stories which are human rather than over-the-top superhero, massy action films,” he said. “Because those are entertaining and people in the country, if they are spending Rs. 250 minimum on a theatre ticket, they want to be entertained, they want to be on the edge of their seat. But I feel in this process of becoming mass entertainers, we are somewhere down the line losing the idea of saying more human stories like Life in a… Metro for that matter… or a Rang De Basanti, or a Swades. Both should be made because it’s a country of 150 crore people.”
He remains optimistic, pointing out that recent successes like Madgaon Express and 3-2 show that the audience is ready for variety.

Looking ahead, Prem is clear about the genres he wants to explore while staying true to his love for comedy.
“I love doing comedy,” he said. “That’s something that I feel all my previous shows have had—a layer of comedy in it along with drama, or family, or romance. So I would want to do more of comedy but explore more genres as well like a crime comedy or a comedy thriller… or a horror comedy for that matter.”

But he’s not just chasing laughs—he wants to elevate the standard of comedy itself.

“Comedy is something which the country—I wouldn’t say lacks—but it needs to have great comedies and not just slapstick ones. That is something that I really want to do, like make great comedies which are also thrilling, like how Sriram Raghavan makes an Andhadhun.”

As Lafange gets ready to reach its audience, Prem Mistry represents a new generation of filmmakers who aim to bridge meaningful storytelling with wide appeal—reminding us that even in an industry often driven by formulas, there's always room for heart.