Set within an elite engineering college, the film blends zombie horror, youth comedy and social satire, positioning itself as a genre-first for Indian cinemas. With a focus on a high-energy, community-driven theatrical experience, Kuku is betting on the big screen as its next growth frontier.
The ensemble cast includes Jessie Lever, Anupriya Goenka, Mohan Kapur, Ranjan Raj, Shivani Paliwal, Shantanu Anam, Rose Sardana, Sachin Kavetham and Tanishq Chaudhary.
The story has been developed in-house at Kuku, with Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal, known for Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva and Farzi, handling the screenplay. The film is directed by Gaganjeet Singh and Alok Dwivedi of Low Gravity Productions, marking the company’s first step towards building a theatrical slate.
Kuku’s move into cinema reflects a strategic expansion beyond its core digital businesses. The company has built scale in audio storytelling through Kuku FM and pioneered the microdrama format in India with Kuku TV, targeting mobile-first audiences.
“Kuku has always been obsessed with how India consumes stories,” said Lal Chand Bisu, CEO, Kuku. “We built scale in personal consumption through Kuku FM and created a new microdrama category in India with Kuku TV. Theatres for us represent the next frontier and we are excited to make our first steps in it. Indian Institute of Zombies marks the first of many, rooted in youth culture, genre innovation and mass Indian tastes.”
The project also reflects Kuku’s push to integrate artificial intelligence into filmmaking. AI has been used across development and production workflows, including story structuring, scheduling and budgeting simulations, enabling faster iteration cycles.“IIZ is a film for everyone who has ever been on a college campus,” said Kunj Sanghvi, Senior Vice President, Kuku. “We observed the success rates of horror comedies at cinemas, the lack of a breakout Indian zombie film, and the strong appetite for campus stories across age groups. We don’t see AI as a replacement for creativity, but as an amplifier that helps us visualise better and make sharper decisions earlier.”
The film marks the beginning of Kuku’s broader ambition to build a curated theatrical portfolio, leveraging its audience insights and AI-led production capabilities to create culturally resonant cinema for Indian audiences.
