Rasika Dugal on Little Thomas: 'A child's perspective is lovely'
Synopsis
In an era of big-budget spectacle, Little Thomas takes the opposite route — a curious seven-year-old in 1990s Goa asking where babies come from. Rasika Dugal says that is precisely the point: director Kaushal Oza's quiet confidence in simple stories is what sets this film apart, and she hopes Indian cinema makes more room for it.
Key Takeaways
Rasika Dugal stars in Little Thomas , directed by Kaushal Oza and backed by Anurag Kashyap .
The film follows seven-year-old Thomas in 1990s Goa , exploring family, childhood, and post-liberalisation India through a child's curiosity.
Rasika praised Oza's 'quiet style of filmmaking' and his confidence in telling stories without grand settings or complex plots.
The cast also includes Gulshan Devaiah and child actor Hridansh Parekh .
The film draws comparisons to Malgudi Days and the works of Ruskin Bond in tone and sensibility.
Actress Rasika Dugal has opened up about the emotional and creative appeal of her latest release, Little Thomas, saying that exploring the world through a child's point of view brings a unique and refreshing quality to storytelling. The film, directed by Kaushal Oza and backed by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, is set in 1990s Goa and follows a curious seven-year-old boy navigating family life in post-liberalisation India.
On Simplicity in Hindi Cinema
Reflecting on the broader landscape of Hindi cinema, Rasika said: 'With all the possibilities that technology offers filmmakers today, there is understandably a lot of emphasis on scale and spectacle. But sometimes, in all of that, we forget the beauty of a story that is simple without being simplistic.'
She noted that director Kaushal Oza's restrained approach to filmmaking sets him apart. 'There is a confidence in his storytelling that comes from knowing that a film doesn't necessarily need a grand setting or a complicated plot to connect with audiences. Sometimes, the simplest ideas can make for the most engaging stories because they reflect our own experiences and observations of life,' she added.
What Little Thomas Is About
The film centres on Thomas, a young boy whose curiosity about where babies come from — and his wish for a sibling — becomes the starting point for a larger narrative about family, childhood, the dynamics of marriage, and life in post-liberalisation India. The story draws comparisons to the warmth and nostalgia of Malgudi Days and the works of Ruskin Bond.
'In Little Thomas, a child's curiosity about where babies come from and his wish for a sibling become the starting point for a larger story about family, childhood, the ups and downs of a marriage, and life in post-liberalisation India,' Rasika explained.
A Child's Curiosity as a Narrative Device
Rasika emphasised that the film's child-led perspective is both its strength and its social statement. 'I think there is something lovely about exploring all of this through a child's perspective. It also reminds us that we shouldn't underestimate children's curiosity or dismiss their questions,' she said.
She added: 'I hope we continue to make films that trust the strength of their ideas and allow simple, everyday stories to find their place.' The sentiment reflects a growing conversation in Indian cinema about the value of intimate, low-scale storytelling amid an era of big-budget spectacle.
Cast and Creative Team
Little Thomas also stars Gulshan Devaiah and child actor Hridansh Parekh. Produced under the backing of Anurag Kashyap, the film represents a quieter, more introspective strand of Hindi filmmaking — one that prioritises emotional truth over visual grandeur. With its 1990s Goa setting and coming-of-age sensibility, the film arrives as a notable counterpoint to mainstream commercial releases.
Point of View
High-octane work see commercial value in quiet, child-led stories. Whether Indian audiences reward that bet at the box office will say something meaningful about where the market's appetite actually lies beyond the multiplex top tier.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little Thomas about?
Little Thomas is a Hindi film set in 1990s Goa that follows a seven-year-old boy named Thomas whose curiosity about where babies come from, and his wish for a sibling, drives a larger story about family, childhood, and post-liberalisation India. The film draws comparisons to Malgudi Days and the works of Ruskin Bond.
Who stars in Little Thomas?
The film stars Rasika Dugal, Gulshan Devaiah, and child actor Hridansh Parekh. It is directed by Kaushal Oza and produced with the backing of Anurag Kashyap.
What did Rasika Dugal say about the film's style?
Rasika Dugal said the film embraces simplicity without being simplistic, and praised director Kaushal Oza's quiet, confident storytelling. She noted that simple ideas can make for the most engaging stories because they reflect real human experiences.
How does Little Thomas fit into current Hindi cinema trends?
The film is seen as a counterpoint to the scale-driven blockbusters dominating Hindi cinema. Rasika Dugal specifically addressed this, saying cinema often forgets the beauty of simple stories amid the emphasis on spectacle and technology.
What is the significance of the child's perspective in Little Thomas?
Rasika Dugal said exploring complex themes of family and marriage through a child's eyes gives the film a unique and lovely quality. She also used it to make a broader point that children's curiosity should not be underestimated or dismissed.
