Draft:Basement Reels

Basement Reels

Basement Reels is a Canadian digital media studio and YouTube channel founded in 2015 by Krusan Siva and Tharshan Rajendiram, based in Toronto, Ontario. The studio focuses on producing films, comedy sketches, short films, and podcasts that highlight South Asian narratives and cultural experiences. Its content often explores themes of identity, family, and social issues. Basement Reels has contributed to the growth of South Asian representation in Canadian media through online distribution and participation in local film festivals.

History and Overview

Basement Reels was established in 2015 and quickly gained recognition for their South Asian representation in online media. Their first video, Awkward Tamil Visits, humorously portrayed a friend's awkward home visit, going viral on YouTube and Facebook. This initial success set the tone for their observational and satirical sketches, which often featured Tamil actors and resonated with a global audience.

Over the years, the studio has produced more than 200 comedy sketches and short films, with total viewership exceeding 25 million globally [[1]].

Basement Reels gained global recognition for drama short films such as Being Gay in a Brown Home, which was selected for the Chennai Rainbow Film Festival [[2]], and Casted Away, addressing the caste system and its impact on the Tamil diaspora [[3]]. In 2019, the studio was featured on CBC’s Our Toronto, with Marivel Taruc interviewing the founders [[4]].

Major Projects

The Misadventure of Unlikely Heroes

The Misadventure of Unlikely Heroes is Basement Reels’ first feature film, a socially conscious thriller exploring themes of racism, freedom, and systemic oppression.

Film Details:

Release Date: October 14, 2022
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Language: English, Tamil
Filming Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Budget: Approximately CA$25,000
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10 [[5]]

Main Cast and Roles:

Krusan Siva as Chris
Tharshan Rajendiram as Vijay
Elia Palagashvili as Dr. Gausse
Thulasiya Sriskandarajan as Sheila

The film is available for streaming on platforms such as Tubi TV, Amazon Prime Video, Roku TV, Plex, and Apple TV.

Normal Tamil Family

Normal Tamil Family is a web series that humorously portrays the dynamics of a typical Tamil family, showcasing the cultural nuances and challenges faced by the South Asian diaspora.

Dirty 30s

Dirty 30s is a satirical short film addressing the societal pressures faced by unmarried women turning 30, blending humor with relatable cultural commentary.

Punch Dialogue Podcast

The Punch Dialogue Podcast explores representation, cultural challenges, and storytelling with notable guests from various creative industries.

Notable Episodes:

#16 – Sunthar V on Being Funny, Gay, and Tamil: Tamil stand-up comedian Sunthar V discusses his identity, queerness, and touring his comedy show globally [[6]].
#17 – Chinnathamizha – Viral Tamil Comedian and Actor: Chinnathamizha reflects on his comedic rise and experience headlining shows in Toronto [[7]].
#22 – Pravin Mani – Composing for Blockbusters: Composer Pravin Mani shares his experiences with A.R. Rahman and the Tamil music industry [[8]].

Founders

Krusan Siva is a Canadian director, screenwriter, and actor. He began his career with the award-winning short film Recreate (2014), which won the Emerging Filmmaker’s Award at the Toronto Urban Film Festival. He is known for creating projects that highlight South Asian experiences, such as Dirty 30s and Normal Tamil Family. Krusan continues to write for film and TV, focusing on stories from the South Asian diaspora.

Tharshan Rajendiram is a filmmaker, writer, producer, and actor. Known for blending comedy and drama, his short films such as Sex Before Marriage and Broken went viral on social media, earning widespread acclaim for addressing South Asian societal issues. Tharshan is celebrated for his realistic acting and comedic writing.

Recognition

Poster for *The Misadventure of Unlikely Heroes* release day event.

Basement Reels and their projects have been recognized for their contributions to South Asian storytelling.

Film Festival Screenings:

Chennai Rainbow Film Festival
IFFSA Toronto

Media Features:

Featured on CBC’s "Our Toronto" with Marivel Taruc

Other Publications

Tamil Culture
The Eyeopener

Impact

Basement Reels has inspired a new wave of South Asian creators by addressing topics such as racism, cultural identity, and representation within the South Asian diaspora. Their work has been featured in publications like Tamil Culture [[9]] and The Eyeopener [[10]].