BRICS WAVES Bazaar Witnesses Unveiling of India’s First Interactive Theatrical Film

India unveiled its first theatrical interactive film, Life Is A Game, at the BRICS WAVES Bazaar in Mumbai, marking a step towards a new era of immersive and participatory cinema.

The film was unveiled during the two-day BRICS WAVES Bazaar being held under India’s BRICS Presidency. The event has brought together more than 500 delegates from 21 BRICS member and partner countries, creating opportunities across film, television, animation, visual effects, gaming, music and digital media.

Produced by Purple Symphony Entertainments, Life Is A Game seeks to transform the cinema experience by turning viewers into participants. Its patent-pending technology allows nearly 200 audience members to interact simultaneously using their mobile phones, without requiring an app or internet connectivity.

The film’s narrative unfolds across four parallel timelines. During each screening, the audience influences which storyline continues, meaning the outcome can vary from one theatrical show to another.

The first look was unveiled in the presence of filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, IFFI Festival Director, and Dr Ashish Kulkarni, Founding Director of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and Chairman of the FICCI AVGC-XR Forum, along with industry leaders and creators.

Writer, director and tech craftsman Ram Vamsi Krishna said the project adds participation to cinema, with every theatre becoming a “living storyteller” and audiences becoming part of the narrative.

Founder and producer Mallika Uddaraju said the project reflects years of creative experimentation and technological innovation, and said India can lead in merging storytelling, technology and collective audience participation.

The project has been incubated at IICT under the WaveX initiative of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, with the Bharat Digital Media Federation (BharatDMF) serving as creators’ partner.

BharatDMF leaders said the film demonstrates how Indian creators and technologists are developing entertainment formats that combine creativity with technology.

The unveiling at BRICS WAVES Bazaar positions Life Is A Game as an example of India’s expanding capabilities in immersive entertainment and highlights the country’s ambition to shape the future of storytelling through theatrical experiences.