Filmmakers Kiran Rao and Biju Toppo Back Film on the Invisible Adivasi Labor Behind AI

Acclaimed producer-director Kiran Rao and filmmaker Biju Toppo are championing the Indian independent film, Humans in the Loop, coming on board as Executive Producers. Set in Jharkhand, the plot follows the story of Nehma, an Oraon Adivasi woman who works as an AI data-labeller. Her story becomes a window into the unseen human labor that powers these cutting-edge technologies, revealing the realities of the invisible workforce powering the digital future. Directed by Aranya Sahay and produced by Mathivanan Rajendran, Sarabhi Ravichandran, and Shilpa Kumar through Storiculture’s Impact Fellowship and SAUV Films, the film is a recipient of the prestigious FIPRESCI India Grand Prix award, which was also given to Payal Kapadia’s breakout success, All We Imagine As Light. Blending indigenous and dystopian themes, the film tries to establish unique metaphors, likening training AI models to rearing a child.

Both producers are set to bring in their distinct and robust experiences to the table. This would be Kiran Rao’s third time backing independent filmmakers. Having previously championed Indian indie talent via films like Ship of Theseus and Stolen, her recent venture with Laapataa Ladies also served as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards in 2024. “I loved Humans In The Loop from the very first viewing. It is deeply moving and thought-provoking. Supporting this project felt both urgent and necessary,” she said in a press statement.

Biju Toppo, who highlights the unsung struggles and resilience of the indigenous communities, added in his statement: “For too long, Adivasi perspectives have remained invisible, not just in history, but even in how we imagine the future. Humans in the Loop boldly expresses our perspective. Having seen the film from its inception, I’m proud to say that it’s both a regional film and a global at the same time.”

On receiving support from industry legends, Sahay mentioned that “Independent filmmaking is often described as walking a tightrope. Knowing that Kiran Rao and Biju Toppo are championing Humans in the Loop gives us immense courage. It has taken a year of consistent outreach through micro-community screenings to reach a momentum to release the film theatrically. I do hope that audiences across the country can experience it on the big screen.”

In an interview with alternative South Asian platform ASAP Art, Sahay linked his passion for indigenous storytelling to his parents, who are sociological researchers. Even during his FTII days in 2019, he was on the lookout for stories that highlighted grassroots issues. It was in 2023, through an open call for “Museum of Imagined Futures“, which was powered by the Goa-based production house, Storiculture, that he got to develop a potential plot that braided technology and society into one. Through mentored sessions with academicians and experts, he got acquainted with Karishma Malhotra, a journalist whose reportage on AI data centers in Jharkhand particularly caught his eye. Over the course of seven months of research, Sahay undertook three trips to Jharkhand, connected with the locals as well as literary and cultural academicians. He also worked under the tutelage of Toppo and Seral Murmu, both known for amalgamating indigenous themes into their work.

What is also interesting about this independent film is its unique mode of outreach. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Sahay mentioned how, over a year-long process of writing multiple emails to his producer, he conducted nationwide screenings in places ranging from festival circuits and cultural clubs, to universities and research centers. Apart from social media and word-of-mouth reviews, Sahay, as a director, was unfailingly present at each screening. The Bangalore session also saw an AI expert joining the screening, providing the audience a more detail-oriented view of what they watched. From the Indie and Austin AI Alliance in Texas to the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), over 30 showcases were orchestrated. However, it was the fateful community screening at Whistling Woods, Mumbai, that reached Kiran Rao, who immediately vouched for a commercial release.

The film will be released through theatrical and curated independent screenings, starting Sept. 5, 2025, at Cinépolis Andheri in Mumbai, followed by openings in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, and Bengaluru from 12 September onwards. The team has also planned a cinema of the people initiative, giving the audiences the opportunity to request specific screenings in their cities.