Director Mani Ratnam and Jayendra Panchapakesan have come up with an innovative approach in order to offer financial assistance to Kollywood film industry members whose livelihoods have been seriously impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

The filmmakers will be producing an anthology for Netflix titled Navarasa and all profits from the short films will help fund unemployed industry makers who have felt the punch brought about by the unfortunate Covid-19 pandemic.

9 films brought to you by 9 amazing storytellers. Are you ready for #Navarasa? Coming soon.@anavenkat @menongautham @nambiarbejoy @karthiksubbaraj @halithashameem @ponramVVS @karthicknaren_M @RathindranR @thearvindswami @MadrasTalkies_ pic.twitter.com/3FC6igapmZ
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 28, 2020

Navarasa will see some of the most famous directors come together to direct nine short films based on nine ‘rasas’ (emotions). In the scriptures, the Navarasa applies to the nine phrases that humans frequently demonstrate in their daily life. They are love (shringaara), laughter (haasya), empathy or sympathy (karuna), anger (roudra), bravery (veera), terror (bhayaanaka), disgust (bheebhatsya), wonder or surprise (adbhutha) and tranquilly or harmony (shaantha). A traditional concert-ending Bharatanatyam Mangalam will complete the presentation.

The short films will be directed by Bejoy Nambiar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Karthik Subbaraj, Karthick Naren, K.V. Anand, Ponram, Rathindran Prasad and Halitha Shameem. Meanwhile, actor Arvind Swamy will also make his directorial debut in an anthology with a short film.

Enna boss sollureenga? Honestly, we are starstruck. 9 emotions, 9 stories, 1 epic anthology. #Navarasa, coming soon.#ManiRatnam @JayendrasPOV @MadrasTalkies_ @thearvindswami @nambiarbejoy @menongautham @halithashameem @karthicknaren_M @karthiksubbaraj @anavenkat @ponramVVS pic.twitter.com/5PuB7DVgHP
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 28, 2020

9 emotions. 9 stories. 1 industry comes together for its people #TamilFilmIndustryComesTogether #NAVARASA. Coming Soon on @NetflixIndia pic.twitter.com/a6V4JMPVip
— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) October 28, 2020

9 emotions. 9 stories. 1 industry comes together for its people #TamilFilmIndustryComesTogether #NAVARASA. Coming Soon on @NetflixIndia https://t.co/P7plGqs1dT
— Halitha (@halithashameem) October 28, 2020

Approximately 40 top industry actors and hundreds of technicians will work on the short films, in addition to the directors. AP International and Wide Angle Creations will play the executive producer role, which will be produced under the banner of Justickets.