Los Angeles-based production manager Deep Barot creates a buzz in film circles with his work

Time of India

5 days ago

Indian-origin production manager and filmmaker Deep Barot is quickly gaining recognition in independent film circles for his precise and emotionally resonant work, most recently with the short film Silent Cycle.
The 12-minute drama, directed by Smahi Anand, has quietly made waves on the international film festival circuit — from Beverly Hills to Ayodhya — earning praise for its restrained storytelling and psychological depth. But while audiences have connected with the film's meditation on loneliness and disconnection, much of its success is being credited to the man behind the scenes: Deep Barot.
Barot, who is based in Los Angeles, has emerged as a key figure in cross-cultural indie productions, particularly for his ability to execute tightly-run, high-impact shoots on limited budgets.
For Silent Cycle, he served as the production manager and producer, overseeing the film's five-day shoot in upstate New York with a lean crew and minimal resources.
'The story demanded more from stillness than it did from action,' said director Smahi Anand. 'And Deep was the one who made that stillness come alive on set.'
Crew members have echoed that sentiment, describing Barot's meticulous planning as essential to the production's smooth execution.
'Every moment was scheduled to the second,' one team member noted. 'In minimalist cinema, even a small misstep can derail the tone. Deep ensured we never lost control.'
The results have spoken for themselves. Silent Cycle has earned several accolades, including Best Original Screenplay at the Boston International Film Festival, Best Woman Director at the Ayodhya Film Festival, and the Audience Choice Award at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival.
It has also screened at the Beverly Hills, Chicago South Asian, Yellowstone, and Pasadena International Film Festivals, and is currently advancing in the selection process for the BAFTA Student Awards.
Beyond the awards, the emotional resonance of the film has struck a chord. At a screening in Chicago, an elderly couple reportedly approached the filmmakers to express how deeply the film had affected them. 'This was the first film in years that made me feel understood,' one of them said.
Barot, who was seated at the back of the auditorium that evening, recalls the moment as a career-defining one.
'You don't always know if people will feel what you feel when you make something this small, this internal,' he said. 'But when they do — it stays with you.'
Though Barot has previously worked on larger-scale productions — including music videos like VIBE (Guru Randhawa x French Montana) and Tell Me (Karan Aujla x OneRepublic ft.
Disha Patani) — Silent Cycle marked a departure, demanding patience, sensitivity, and a willingness to step back from spectacle.
'This film asked us to breathe with the characters,' he said. 'Every shot had to carry the weight of the ones we didn't take.'
Looking ahead, Barot has a packed slate, including an upcoming feature film and a high-profile music video with Diljit Dosanjh. Still, Silent Cycle holds a special place in his journey.
'It reminded me of why I got into this industry,' he said. 'Not for the noise. For the silences.'
In an era dominated by visual effects and large-scale productions, Barot's work on Silent Cycle underscores a quiet truth in filmmaking: sometimes, less is more.