TLI Staff
New Delhi: Sanjay Suri plays an unconventional role in his latest short film Call Him Teddy. A professional cuddler, his characters spreads love and warmth by giving hugs to his clients.
Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films’ Call him Eddy brings forth the idea of hiring warmth for company, a concept that doesn’t have a lot of takers in India.
The film, directed by Sanjeev Vig and produced by Savera Films, delves into the life of Eddy, played by Sanjay Suri, whose platonic comfort is a bundle of joy for people seeking it, but is often viewed with suspicion by those mistrustful of his intentions. Professional cuddling as a service, which is equivalent to ordering a warm cup of latte for many, is still a rare profession and service in many parts of the world.
“At a time when virtual world has deeply impacted human relationships and communication, a script like Call Him Eddy was offered to me. For me it was, ‘love at first read.’ I remember telling the director that this film must be made with or without me. I am fortunate that I got to play Eddy.” He added, “A hug does more than what many words can do. I think during such trying times when people could not even see their loved ones, losing them forever is a huge price to pay only to realize how important a comforting touch can be. Call him Eddy brings out an emotion that emoticons cannot justify!” says Sanjay Suri about his character.
Riya, played by Eisha Chopra, a documentary film maker who decides to visit him. It is this staged encounter that unfolds a seemingly odd profession for the viewers and what goes in the mind of a man, who is as easily misunderstood as his is understanding of people’s emotions.
“I’ve always felt human touch was one of the most basic needs for a person to thrive, and to even just survive. Even the small moment of affection can heal and release years of baggage. So when Sanjeev offered me this role, I didn’t even need to read the script because it reflected everything that I believed in. And strangely, this year we’ve all had to experience this in a way that we’d never had imagined,” says Eisha.