30/01/2025
FOR THE LOVE OF CINEMA:
In 2015, we were working with the director of “Phobia” Pavan Kriplani and were writing a presentation for the film. We found the story very interesting and decided to translate our understanding of the film into a poster for the film, we tried to understand what happens when the mind becomes a prison? When the boundaries between reality and fear blur so much that even the spaces we seek for comfort become terrifying? Phobia, a psychological thriller starring the incredible Radhika Apte, wasn’t just a film— it was an exploration of how our minds when pushed to their limits, shape our reality.
But what was fascinating beyond the script was how the visual storytelling—specifically the poster— could encapsulate the essence of Phobia and its intense psychological narrative.
The Psychology Behind the Design:
In this film, Mehak’s agoraphobia traps her in a world where danger could be lurking in every corner. And so, the poster design plays with this idea. A dark, almost minimalist background forces the viewer’s eye to focus solely on the central elements. The dim lighting, sharp contrasts, and Mehak bound in a foetal position inside a skull echo the isolation she feels and the haunting possibility that her mind might be deceiving her.
Symbolism at Play:
1. The feeling of mental imprisonment:
The tightly bound Mehak in the foetal position within her skull in the poster symbolizes how Mehak’s fear could be both: real or a figment of her imagination.
2. The stylized background:
The subtle inclusion of a red fog of fear in the design plays into the concept of paranoia, a recurring theme in the film.
3. The Distorted Perspective:
The visual of Mehak’s fear being a living, breathing entity inside her head, highlights the intensity of terror that Mehak feels.
Design as an Emotional Trigger:
When it comes to Phobia, the poster would not merely a promotional tool—it's would be a psychological experience. The clever use of colour, typography, and visual elements should create an emotional response before even watching the movie, a sensory experience that leads you straight into Mehak’s tortured state of mind.
The work was presented but didn’t get approved, but we still are extremely proud of this piece of work that we did as a team.
