Kuku, the digital entertainment powerhouse behind Kuku FM and Kuku TV, has officially announced its entry into the theatrical film production business. In a major move to expand beyond personal audio and mobile-first micro-dramas, the company revealed its debut Hindi feature film, “Indian Institute of Zombies” (IIZ), which is slated for a nationwide cinema release on May 8, 2026.
This transition signals Kuku’s ambition to become a multi-format entertainment giant, leveraging its massive existing user base and deep insights into Indian youth culture to conquer the “big screen.”
1. Debut Film: “Indian Institute of Zombies” (IIZ)
Billed as India’s first campus zombie comedy, the film is designed to blend high-octane horror with sharp social satire and youth-centric humor.
- The Plot: Set inside an elite engineering campus, the story follows a group of students as they navigate an unexpected zombie outbreak while dealing with the usual pressures of academic life.
- The Cast: The film features a diverse ensemble including Jessie Lever, Anupriya Goenka, Mohan Kapur, Ranjan Raj, Shivani Paliwal, Shantanu Anam, Rose Sardana, Sachin Kavetham, and Tanishq Chaudhary.
- Creative Team: The story was developed in-house at Kuku, with a screenplay by Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal (famed for Brahmāstra and Farzi). It is directed by Gaganjeet Singh and Alok Dwivedi.
2. The “AI-Native” Production Edge
In line with its tech-first DNA, Kuku has deeply integrated Artificial Intelligence into the entire filmmaking workflow for IIZ.
- Efficiency over Gimmickry: AI was used for concept structuring, story architecture, and budgeting simulations, allowing for faster development cycles.
- Creative Amplification: Kunj Sanghvi, Senior VP at Kuku, noted that AI serves as an “amplifier” rather than a replacement for human creativity, helping the team visualize scenes and make sharper decisions earlier in the production process.
- Cost Innovation: By applying its AI-native pipeline, Kuku aims to bring the “lean” production model of its micro-dramas to the high-stakes world of theatrical cinema.
3. Why the Move to Theatres?
CEO Lal Chand Bisu described the move as the “next frontier” for the company after dominating personal and short-form consumption.
| Segment | Platform | Focus |
| Audio Stories | Kuku FM | Personal, regional-language consumption. |
| Micro-Dramas | Kuku TV | Mobile-first, vertical video storytelling. |
| Feature Films | Theatrical | Community-driven, big-screen experiences. |
Strategy: Kuku is betting on the “Horror-Comedy” genre, which has seen massive success in India recently (Stree 2, Munjya), combined with a perceived lack of a breakout Indian zombie film.
4. Future Outlook: Building a Slate
“Indian Institute of Zombies” is not a one-off project. Kuku has signaled its intent to build a curated theatrical portfolio over the next two years.
- Youth Culture Focus: Future projects will continue to be rooted in “mass Indian tastes” and genre innovation.
- Multi-Format Synergy: Expect stories that start as audiobooks on Kuku FM or micro-dramas on Kuku TV to eventually be adapted into full-scale theatrical releases if they show strong audience traction.
“Theatres represent a high-energy, community-driven viewing experience that we are excited to be a part of,” said Lal Chand Bisu. “IIZ is just the beginning.”
