Termite, the latest production from independent studio Gubbara Entertainment, produced by Gubbara Entertainment and Kiterabbit Films and presented by the Azim Premji Foundation, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Shaunak Sen, had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 11, 2026, where it was screened as part of the festival’s Short Film Competition.
The film marks a significant new chapter for Sen as his first fiction film, following his acclaimed documentary work. Sen’s All That Breathes was nominated for the Academy Award and BAFTA Award in 2023 and received honours at Cannes, Sundance, BFI London, the APSA Screen Awards, IDA, Cinema Eye and numerous other international film festivals.
Set in the bustling lanes of 1990s Old Delhi, Termite is an intimate story about companionship, belonging and the quiet anxieties that emerge when a familiar life begins to change. The film follows Ajith, a termite exterminator, and Saud, who runs a Xerox shop, two men in their late 40s who have created a close and unconventional domestic life together. Their settled routine is disrupted when the possibility of marriage enters Saud’s life, forcing both men to confront questions around companionship, attachment and change.
For Dimpy Agarwal, Founder, Gubbara Entertainment, Termite represents an important step in the studio’s journey of working with distinctive filmmakers and stories.“ We are incredibly excited to see Termite premiere at TIFF, especially to have the film selected for the Short Film Competition. To have Shaunak Sen make his first fiction film with us and to see the film find a place on such an important international platform is truly special. It is a wonderful moment for Gubbara and for everyone who has worked on the film”.
Founded by Dimpy Agarwal in 2024, Gubbara Entertainment is building a slate across fiction and documentary, working with filmmakers and creators to develop distinctive stories and establish a sustainable pipeline for independent cinema. The company’s slate includes long-form projects, short documentaries, fiction shorts and an anthology feature, with collaborations across emerging and established voices.
With Termite, Gubbara Entertainment brings together one of India’s most acclaimed contemporary documentary filmmakers and a deeply rooted story set against the textures and rhythms of Old Delhi, as Sen takes his first step into fiction.
