Mai is first independent production of Anushka Sharma’s brother, Karnesh

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A middle-class wife, mother and volunteer nurse witnesses a first-hand tragedy that forever changes her world. In an instant, she finds herself sucked into a rabbit- hole of violence, crime and power. Sakshi Tanwar is Mai, as she dons a new avatar  as a woman who is determined to uncover the truth about the death of her daughter, Supriya. Mai is a layered, crime drama and thriller series produced by Karnesh Ssharma of Clean Slate Filmz. Atul Mongia is Creator and Showrunner, and the series is directed by Anshai Lal & Atul Mongia and is co-written by Tamal Sen & Amita Vyas.

Mai hosts an exciting ensemble including Vivek Mushran, Wamiqa Gabbi, Anant Vidhaat, Raima Sen, Ankur Ratan, Prashant Narayanan, Vaibhav Raj Gupta and Seema Pahwa. The series marks the directorial debut for Mai creator, writer and showrunner, Atul Mongia. With the launch of the trailer, Atul opens up on how his real-life experiences enabled him to create and write the thriller.

“Since childhood, my mother has woken up before the break of dawn and toiled until she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. While dabbling in multiple side-careers, she has lived her entire life for her family, a feature not uncommon to Indian mothers. Just like my mother, despite the many ups and downs in life, Mai too retains her sanctity by shunning the world outside of her family. But, what if her existence were to cross paths with an extremely dire and appalling circumstance?”

Atul goes on, “At the heart of the series is the Chaudhary family of two brothers, who live with their spouses and kids in adjacent houses in the same colony. Sheel, our protagonist, is the wife of the younger brother. She lives and breathes for her immediate and extended family, making sure the entire house runs like a well-oiled machine. However, because of a bizarre twist of fate and choice, Sheel is thrown deep into the world of crime.”

He adds, “The series becomes unusually dramatic, yet extremely relatable, because at least on the outset, she still remains the same humble, simple mother. Just like my mother,and possibly yours as well! The protagonist of Mai has the maiden name of my own mother. Mai takes the concept of the homely, caring, traditional Indian mother of popular Indian television and cinema and pits it against the true existence of the Machiavellian world out there, forcing her and us to challenge our belief systems.”

Talking about the series, Karnesh Ssharma, producer and brother to actress Anushka Sharma, said, “We are excited to bring this story to the world through Netflix, who’ve been a wonderful partner to us with Bulbbul and now, with Mai. This is a gripping yet emotional story of a strong mother’s journey. Sheel is a multifaceted character, who fights to overcome everything and everyone in her way to avenge her daughter, all this while holding on to her vulnerability, which enables audiences to relate and connect to her in a more meaningful way. The viewers are going to witness a layered narrative that is full of twists and turns, showcasing how far a mother will go for love and in search of the truth.”

Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India, states, “Mai is a signature Netflix series that brings together defining storytelling, nuanced performances and a deeply thought-provoking journey of a mother’s run-ins with crime and criminals. Set in an intriguing world, Mai brings together everything our audiences love and enjoy. A compelling and sensitively handled storyline created by Atul Mongia, a gritty thriller-like crime drama produced by Clean Slate Filmz and one of the most powerful performances that one has ever seen from Sakshi Tanwar, who headlines Mai.”

Anushka Sharma, partner in Clean Slate Filmz since their maiden venture NH10 seven years ago, with follow-up films like Phillauri, Pari and BBulbul and the Amazon series Paatal Lok, has recently opted out to give her brother a free hand in the creativity of his ventures.

In a social media statement made just 5 days ago, she has said, “Onwards and Upwards @kans26 @officialcsfilms! My best wishes are always with you. When I started Clean Slate Filmz with my brother Karnesh Ssharma, we were novices when it came to production, but we had a fire in our belly and we wanted to try and set the agenda of entertainment in India through clutter-breaking content. Today, when I look back at our journey so far, I’m deeply proud of what we have created and the disruption that we have managed to achieve.

“While CSF started with my vision to change the narrative of what commercial projects should be like, I have to credit Karnesh who has excelled in shaping what CSF has become today. Being a new mother who has chosen to be an actor by profession, I have to balance my life in an entirely new fashion like never before. So, I have decided that whatever time I have at hand, I will dedicate it to my first love, acting! Therefore, I have decided to step away from CSF, confident that the most able person, Karnesh, is taking forward the vision with which it was created in the first place.”