Humans in the Loop (film)
| Humans in the Loop | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Aranya Sahay |
| Written by | Aranya Sahay |
| Produced by | Mathivanan Rajendran Shilpa Kumar Sarabhi Ravichandran |
| Starring | Sonal Madhushankar |
| Cinematography | Harshit Saini Monica Tiwari |
| Edited by | Swaroop Reghu Aranya Sahay |
Production companies | Storiculture Museum of Imagined Futures SAUV Films |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Hindi Kurukh |
Humans in the Loop is a 2024 Indian independent drama film written and directed by Aranya Sahay and produced by Storiculture. The film follows an Adivasi woman from Jharkhand who unexpectedly finds herself interacting with artificial intelligence, unraveling its hidden biases and ethical dilemmas. Inspired by a 2022 article by journalist Karishma Mehrotra in ''FiftyTwo'' titled "Human Touch",[2] the film sheds light on AI bias and its disproportionate impact on women in technology. It highlights the contributions of women in the field of data annotation and algorithmic development while questioning the growing intersection of AI and marginalised communities.
It was released on limited screens all across major cities in India on 5 September 2025.[3] The film premiered at MAMI in 2024 and on Netflix on 31 October 2025.[4][5]
Plot
[edit]Nehma, an Adivasi woman of the Oraon tribe, returns to her native village in Jharkhand from Ranchi, with her daughter Dhaanu and infant son Guntu after the breakdown of her ‘dhuku’ marriage (live-in relationship). To support her family, Nehma takes up work at a local data-labelling centre, where employees annotate images and videos to train artificial intelligence systems for international clients. Soon she starts noticing a troubling gap between the rigid categories demanded by the AI system and the ecological wisdom of her own community.
Meanwhile, her daughter Dhaanu struggles to adjust to the family’s new life in the village, missing the urban world she has left behind. She even makes a futile attempt to escape from the village. [6]
Cast
[edit]- Sonal Madhushankar as Nehma
- Ridhima Singh as Dhaanu
- Gita Guha as Nehma's Supervisor
- Vikas Gupta
- Prayrak Mehta
- Anurag Lugun
Release
[edit]Humans in the Loop premiered at the MAMI before being screened at the IFFK. It received critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling and unique perspective on gender representation in AI. The film also received a nomination for Gender Sensitivity from the Film Critics Guild.
The film was developed as part of the Storiculture Impact Fellowship, which supports socially relevant storytelling in media. It was created in collaboration with the Museum of Imagined Futures, which focuses on the intersection of technology and society.
The film release worldwide on 31 October 2025 by Netflix.[7]
Reception
[edit]
The film received widespread critical acclaim for its thought-provoking narrative and strong visual storytelling. Critics praised its nuanced exploration of AI biases and the gendered implications of technology. High on Films rated it 4.5/5, calling it "an essential and timely film on the intersection of ethics and technology."[8] The Hindu highlighted its "sharp social critique wrapped in a visually immersive experience."[9] Indian Express praised its "meticulous research and emotionally compelling storytelling."[10] The film holds an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on early festival reviews.
Deccan Herald described it as "an ode to the women who are redefining technology from behind the screens."[11] Nandini Ramnath of the Scroll.in observed that "Humans in the Loop suggests that Indians can domesticate all manner of beasts, whether personified or machine-led."[12] Abhishek Srivastava of The Times of India awarded 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that "Director Aranya Sahay, who also appears briefly as a government officer in the film, occasionally slips into preachy moments, but when the film simply observes, it feels like a fresh voice—a story about AI that is profoundly human."[13] Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India writes in his review that "Most film-makers might have rested on the multitudes of this premise. The movie itself might have felt incidental, like a medium to platform all those blatant metaphors. But Aranya Sahay crafts a thoughtful, curious and wonderfully observed narrative that marries the language of storytelling with the grammar of living."[14]
Sahir Avik D’souza of The Quint rated it 4 stars out of 5 and wrote that "the film is dedicated to the women of Jharkhand. It highlights the unsung human labour that quietly powers the global artificial intelligence industry."[15] Alaka Sahani, writing for The Indian Express stated that "Humans in the Loop reminds us that though we are not unfamiliar with the threat that AI algorithms pose to cultural homogeneity, we still have to get rid of our existing biases."[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "'Humans in the Loop': Award-winning feature on Adivasi AI data-labeller to release on this date". The Hindu. 2 September 2025.
- ^ "Human Touch". Fifty Two (52). Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (30 October 2025). "'Humans In The Loop': How Aranya Sahay's Indie Film Darling Cracked Its Commercial Release with Kiran Rao". Variety.
- ^ Parasuraman, Prathyush (15 September 2025). "AI Impact Drama 'Humans in the Loop' Lands U.S. Theatrical Release and Netflix Pact, Unveils Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". The Hollywood Reporter India.
- ^ "Aranya Sahay's 'Humans in the Loop' debuts on Netflix, explores the human side of artificial intelligence". Bollywood Hungama. 31 October 2025.
- ^ mint
- ^ "Humans In The Loop OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Kiran Rao's Indian indie film online". OTT Play. 31 October 2025.
- ^ V, Aswin (26 December 2024). "Humans in the Loop (2024) Movie Review: Introspecting the Narrative of Social Learning". High On Films. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ Oommen, Nainu (20 December 2024). "IFFK 2024: 'Humans in the Loop' cautions against Artificial Intelligence driven by dominant narratives". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ "FTII alumni connects the dots between AI future, colonial past with debut feature film". The Indian Express. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ "Aranya Sahay's ode to the women of Jharkhand's data centres". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ Ramnath, Nandini (5 September 2025). "'Humans in the Loop' review: A thoughtful look at new AI tech and age-old fault lines". Scroll.in. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ Srivastava, Abhishek. "'Humans In The Loop Movie Review: A touching dive into AI's human side, with occasional bumps". Scroll.in. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ Desai, Rahul (1 April 2025). "'Humans in the Loop' Movie Review: A Profound Take on Artificial Intelligence and Natural Order". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ D'souza, Sahir Avik (5 September 2025). "'Humans in the Loop': A Thoughtful Film About the Human Intelligence Behind AI". The Quint. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ Sahani, Alaka (3 May 2025). "Humans in the Loop explores how AI clashes with traditional belief systems". The Indian Express. Retrieved 31 October 2025.