GURUGRAM, India: Manoj Madhusudanan’s debut short film, Random Beats, has been awarded Best Short Film at the recently concluded Mei International Film Festival 2026, further cementing its standing as one of the notable independent short films to emerge on the festival circuit in recent years.
The latest honour follows a string of recognitions for the film, including the Best Debut Award at the Aravali International Film Festival. Random Beats has also drawn attention at festivals such as the International Film Festival of Shimla, Atlanta Indian Film Festival, India International Film Festival of Boston, and the 7th South Asian Film Festival, among others.
Written, produced, and directed by Madhusudanan, the film is a quietly observed meditation on the ways digital communication shapes contemporary relationships. At a time when human interaction is increasingly mediated by screens, Random Beats explores the subtle fractures, misread intentions, and emotional dissonance that can arise from virtual exchanges.
“We live in a world where we often communicate more through digital channels than in person, and that creates countless possibilities for friction and miscommunication,” said Madhusudanan. “A real-life incident narrated to me became the seed for this story. I wanted to tell it because it felt simple, relatable, and yet deeply thought-provoking.”
Madhusudanan brings to filmmaking an unusual professional trajectory. Based in India, he is a Leadership Presence and Storytelling Coach with over 25 years of corporate experience spanning data analytics, consulting, and AI. Educated at IIT Madras and XLRI Jamshedpur, he has pursued cinema as a parallel passion since childhood.
Drawing inspiration from masters such as Ingmar Bergman, Steven Spielberg, Majid Majidi, Werner Herzog, Satyajit Ray, and Adoor Gopalakrishnan, he deepened his engagement with the craft through three film certification programmes at Raindance Film School, London, completed between 2015 and 2016. After several amateur experiments, Random Beats marked his first professionally mounted work.
Reflecting on the film’s formal choices, Madhusudanan said, “To tell this story without distraction, I chose a linear narrative structure, a contemporary pastel palette, and a minimalist use of background score. It is truly heartening to see the appreciation and accolades our little film is receiving at international film festivals.”
With this latest recognition, Random Beats has now been selected at 22 prestigious national and international film festivals, winning honours at eight of them.
About the Film
Random Beats is a short film written, produced, and directed by Manoj Madhusudanan. The film examines how digital communication influences personal relationships and the subtle ways in which modern modes of interaction can lead to misunderstanding and emotional complexity.
About Manoj Madhusudanan
Manoj Madhusudanan is a Leadership Presence and Storytelling Coach based in India, with over 25 years of experience in the corporate world. With academic credentials from IIT Madras and XLRI Jamshedpur, and filmmaking certifications from Raindance Film School, London, Manoj brings together analytical depth, storytelling insight, and cinematic passion in his creative work.