3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Jan 15, 2026 10:54 PM IST
Arundhati Roy, who went on to win the Booker Prize for her debut novel The God of Small Things in 1997, played a major character in the film. (A still from the movie 'In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones')
Though many cinephiles assumed that the original print of ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989)’ was lost, the the newly-restored version of the National Film Award-winning film, whose story and screenplay were written by Arundhati Roy, will have its world premiere at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival.
The Pradip Krishen-directed film, captured the zeitgeist of student life in an architecture school in Delhi in the mid-1970s. Roy, who went on to win the Booker Prize for her debut novel The God of Small Things in 1997, played a major character in the film. It also featured a brief cameo by Shah Rukh Khan, who subsequently made his debut as a lead actor with Deewana (1992).
The film festival, scheduled to be held from February 12 to 22, will screen the movie under the Berlinale Classics section. The film was restored in 4K by Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) at Italy’s L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in association with director Krishen.
The 112-minute film follows the story of Anand Grover (Arjun Raina) aka ‘Annie’, a fifth year student who has been failing for four years and breeds chickens in his hostel room, and his motley crew of friends. ‘Gives it those ones’ is Delhi University slang for ‘does his usual act’. In Annie’s case, it means being a bit of a bungler, a sort of misguided visionary.
The film also featured a brief cameo by Shah Rukh Khan, who subsequently made his debut as a lead actor with Deewana (1992). (Still from ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’)
Speaking about the film Krishen said,: “When we made ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’ almost four decades ago, it was unique in the sense that no one was making films about people like us, about the English-speaking student subculture where the characters spoke their own patois.” The film won National Awards for best feature film in English and best screenplay.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of FHF, said, “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones was a pathbreaking film at the time it was made — arguably the first ‘English’ film, irreverent and idiosyncratic, with a screenplay and dialogues that captured so authentically the student milieu of the ’70s.” The film went out of circulation after a single screening on Doordarshan though it found love in later years.
Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism.
Expertise & Accolades
In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023.
Global Industry Leadership
Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies:
Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes.
National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema.
Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends.
Focus & Vision
Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More
The film also featured a brief cameo by Shah Rukh Khan, who subsequently made his debut as a lead actor with Deewana (1992). (Still from ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’)
