An SF Story
This business plan does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or interest of any kind in the company or other entity herein. No representations or warranties of any kind whatsoever are made, or should be inferred, with respect to the information set forth herein. This business plan represents the confidential and proprietary work product of AN SF STORY and is not intended for general use or publication. Consummation of the undertaking described in this business plan is subject, in pertinent part, to the company obtaining the funds necessary to finance the venture. This business plan contains certain information and assumptions which are presented solely for the purpose of information and illustration. No representations or warranties of any kind can be made as to the accuracy or completeness of such information.
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India's First Special Forces' Movie
AN SF STORY
2002-2003
After a rigorous selection process, a Young Officer joins a Special Forces (SF) unit hunting terrorists in J&K. The terrain and weather constantly shift the power dynamics - hunters often become the hunted. The SF unit operates in small teams with specialized, cross-trained members. The Young Officer and his team must find & eliminate a terror leadership in their area before winter snow closes mountain paths... At the same time, dark thoughts engulf him, knowing that his friends & family (or the nation) does not appreciate or care for the civilizational war the men are fighting.
Hi there,
Welcome to 'An SF Story.' This is our registered working title. As the producer, I'm thrilled to present this gripping story of brotherhood, courage and hope that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get ready for a heart-pounding journey into the dark forests of Kashmir.
Rahul Uppal
Biz Director, Śravaṇam Studios
Executive Summary
Format
100 Min Feature Film
Theatrical Release
Genre
Military/Action/Drama
Unique Indian SF
Shoot
MAR 2026
MAY 2026
Budget
1.76 MM US$
15.50 CR INR
US$ = 88 INR
Synopsis
After the humiliating defeat in the 1999 Kargil War, Pakistan starts pushing large numbers of terrorists into J&K. In 2001, the US invades Afghanistan, battle-hardened fighters who had previously fought in Afghanistan return to Pakistan. They are directed to J&K to exploit the existing proxy war against India. This leads to surge in violence with the new entrants showing extreme brutality towards everyone, including native muslim Kashmiris (for whom they are supposed to be fighting). Meanwhile, the rest of the world is celebrating the arrival of the new millennium. India’s IT boom is almost a decade old – engineers irrespective of their specializations are choosing software careers…. & Prashant Rao, a fresh software graduate, driven by a mix of patriotism and a spirit of adventure, skips H1B for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam to join the Indian Army. A year later he is a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Signals posted at a remote “listening post” on the LOC, J&K. Privy to radio intercepts of various terror groups in J&K, he is disturbed by the glee with which they rapes, torture & murder. Soon he is volunteering again, this time for one of the most difficult selection processes – the Special Forces’ Probation. Out of 45 probationers only five make the cut. Prashant is one of them. The SF unit operates in small hunting teams. The rugged mountains provide natural advantages to terrorists for hiding & ambushes - hunters often get hunted. In this dangerous cat and mouse game, the teams rely heavily on each other, on their skills & training, and on an indescribable “sixth sense”. Prashant soon discovers that the ordinary looking, ever jovial men in his team are humble legends. Prashant also discovers, it is a almost a secret war – rest of India is unaware of the complexity or brutality of the conflict at best and is deliberately misinformed at worst. He has to make peace that this is a lonely effort in which a few brave men, women & their families pay the price of an unacknowledged civilizational conflict – they need no adulation or recognition to fight the enemy. He matures to become a true SF warrior.
Characters
Some of the Heroes
PREP
The
01 Research
60 Months | Accomplished
• Interviewed SF operators (serving & veterans) • Visited restricted SF bases in J&K • Visited and stayed with SF families across India • Volunteered on month long SF veterans' expedition in Siachen Glacier area
02 Development
6 Months | Accomplished
• Fully develop the shooting script/detailed screenplay • Complete preliminary shooting schedule • Complete preliminary budget • Start identifying possible talent • Initiate project funding
03 Pre-Production
3 - 6 Months
• Set up production offices and accounting department • Final casting, cast rehearsals, fittings • Inform major and mini-major distributors of production status and establish tracking procedures • Hire complete production team and crew • Adjust and finalize production schedule and budget • Complete all production design planning • Book all equipment according to schedule • Complete location scouting, contracting, and permitting • Engage music licensing and pre-recording • Book all travel and arrangements according to schedule and agreements
04 SF Boot Camp
1 - 2 Months
A deeply immersive Boot Camp with SF Veterans to improve performance. • For Actors - Repetitive training to acquire short-term muscle memory so that actors can execute complex tasks like handling weapons or performing fight choreography automatically, without conscious thought • For Actors - Transformative shared experience for more realistic & impactful on-screen relationships. • For Actors - Mental and emotional shift from civilian life to the Special Forces mind set, helping them understand the psychological state of their characters. • For Production Team it is an opportunity to understand the world that they will be creating and to plan accordingly. • For the Marketing Team, the Boot Camp is an opportunity to invite investors, influencers, distributers, etc., to share a creative and transformational experience
05 Production
2 - 3 Months
• Engage in all activities involving picture and field sound acquisition on a five-week shooting schedule • Schedule and execute any needed pickup shots and/or reshoots • Wrap all outstanding business issues and ensure documentation is complete • Finalize all accounting for audit • Finalize, document, and back up all creative assets for postproduction
06 Post-Production
4 - 6 Months
• Complete editorial of film • Engage music scoring and record score • Engage sound design including all Foley and looping activities • Complete all digital effects and color correction • Schedule and execute test screenings and collect data appropriately • Make adjustments to final edit based on test screening data • Mix and master final sound and picture for Dolby mix and/or THX Digital Master • Complete all deliverables for domestic and foreign release including sound, music, trailer, print (film and digital), DVD, publicity, and legal requirements
Target Audience
GROUPING ONE
GROUPING TWO
Marketing
Start to Finish Marketing Philosophy
FOCUS
Tight focus on the Target Audience. Understand & fulfil their needs from a movie.
COLLABORATE
Collaborate with relevant members (especially subject matter experts, service providers, etc.) of the Target Audience at each stage. For continuous R&D, trainings, promos, events etc.
ENGAGE
Engage in meaningful ways to amplify online (thru podcasters, influencers, etc.) & offline thru meet & greet events, pre-screenings, etc.
Distribution
3 Comparable Movies
Satya 1998
Budget: ₹ 2.5 cr
Box Office: ₹ 18.0 cr
Producer: Ram Gopal Varma
Low Budget. No Superstars. Gritty, realistic portrayal of the Mumbai underworld. Not the romanticised Bollywood playbook version.
Mosul 2019
Budget: NA
Box Office: NA
Producer: Russo Brothers
All-Arab cast. Realistic and gritty portrayal of urban warfare from an Iraqi viewpoint rather than a Western one.
Uri 2019
Budget: ₹ 44.0 cr
Box Office: ₹ 342.1 cr
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Validated the appetite for military/action genre. Great at B.O. inspite of poor research & unauthentic portrayal of Operations.
Note on Comparable Movies
An SF Story is like the Satya of Indian war movie genre; Ensemble cast, unique and interesting characters, a ruthless and cruel antagonist... Satya revolutionised the Indian gangster film genre. It offered a raw, realistic, and gritty portrayal of the Mumbai underworld breaking many cinematic conventions of the time. Uri's success confirms the interest in the war/actiongenre, locally and globally. Mosul was the number two film worldwide on Netflix in its release month, December 2020, and became one of the most-watched films in Europe and the Middle East.
Financing Plan
Total Budget Estimate
₹ 15.50 cr
Development
₹ 0.5 cr
Post-Production
₹ 1.0 cr
Pre-Production
₹ 4.5 cr
Marketing
₹ 1.0 cr
Production
₹ 6.5 cr
Contingency
₹ 2.0 cr
Investor Economics
Returns | Risk Mitigation | Timeline
Investment Stages & ROI
Stage One: Investors formally pledge their investment but do not pay. This phase ends only when 100% of the required capital is pledged/committed.
Stage Two: Investors make the actual capital transfer. The producing entity will not make any request for the committed capital till Stage One is over. There will be no partial financial closure.
ROI: Investors will recoup 100% of their investment before any profits are distributed. After that point, all of the net profits will be split on mutually agreed terms.
RISK
An investment in the production of a motion picture is extremely speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Cross-sectoral expertise of the team has been employed to reduce/eliminate risk at each stage of the business. Below are the some of the Risk Mitigation strategies/tools for the project:
Risk Mitigation
Risks cannot be fully eliminated but can be managed effectively at each stage.
Investment Timeline
Day 01: First Pitch.
Day 15-30: Commit (Stage One).
Day 30-60: Invest (Stage Two).
Day 60-500: Track.
Day 500-700: Liquidate.
Meet the Team
Industry Experts Engaged
In The Trenches...
Advisory Board
The Mission
Beyond ROI
