Lilly Singh Boards Oscar-Qualified Short ‘Holy Curse’ as Exec Producer
Global entertainer Lilly Singh has come aboard the short film “Holy Curse” in an executive producer capacity, backing director Snigdha Kapoor’s acclaimed drama about gender identity and cultural conformity.
The project secured its place in the Oscar race after claiming top honors at the 19th Tasveer Film Festival and Market, positioning it for potential recognition at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony in 2026.
“I’m incredibly proud to join ‘Holy Curse’ and stand behind a film that speaks with such courage, tenderness, and truth,” Singh said. “Stories like this don’t just challenge norms, they create space for people to see themselves with dignity. It’s an honor to help champion its journey.”
Kapoor’s narrative follows Radha, an 11-year-old child grappling with questions about gender during a family trip to India. The protagonist encounters resistance from relatives who attempt traditional ceremonies, convinced they’re breaking a generational curse. The film weaves together comedic and dramatic elements while examining the tension between personal identity and familial expectations.
Singh’s involvement comes as she expands her producing footprint through Unicorn Island Productions and its companion fund, both dedicated to amplifying marginalized storytellers. Her debut feature “Doin’ It,” which she starred in and co-scripted, launched at SXSW 2024 and earned her recognition at Variety‘s Power of Comedy celebration. The former late-night host broke barriers as the first woman of color to anchor a program in that format for a major broadcast network. Her advocacy work includes recent appointments as both a UN SDG Advocate and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Mrunal Kashid leads the ensemble in a breakout turn, joined by established performers Adithi Kalkunthe, Anup Soni, Prayrak Mehta and Shardul Bhardwaj.
Festival recognition has mounted steadily, with jury prizes from both Reeling in Chicago and the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, plus top LGBTQ+ honors at Flickerfest. Additional showcases have included London’s BFI, Palm Springs ShortFest, Cleveland’s international showcase, Japan’s Short Shorts Festival and the Mumbai Film Festival.
Behind the camera, Kapoor has assembled Neeraj Churi, whose Lotus Visual Productions recently backed Sundance winner “Cactus Pears” and SXSW favorite “A Place of Our Own.” The producing team also features Noopur Sinha, known for National Geographic’s “Gordon Ramsey: Uncharted,” and Shweta Bolakani, who has collaborated with leading Indian production houses including Dharma and Excel Entertainment.
Additional team members include Ashish Sawhny serving in a creative consulting role, with Dheeraj Agnihotri handling publicity as associate producer. Technical contributors span Emmy-nominated cinematographer Juhi Sharma, National Award recipient Anadi Athaley on editing duties, colorist Mahak Gupta, composer Alex Symcox and casting from Kabiku Productions.
Kapoor’s prior work includes “Look Like You,” an audience favorite at the Asian American International Film Festival now available through BFI Player.
