Light Year Man is a thinking mans fictionalized science drama about a group of urban citizens who show up in a friends place by invitation, only to find that he is suddenly claiming to be a man from outer space. Using just the house as setting, without any special effects, and only relying on the dialog between the friends to move forward this is a movie that was made in a nano budget. Light Year Man is a story of Vikram who is a successful science communicator and a venture capitalist who invites his friends from various stages of his life to his home. In those friends is a struggling Hindu fanatic writer, a hard working wife saving the family and a group of computer scientists with a hidden secret. The story begins with the friends arriving at the house after being invited over a short notice. The writer and his wife have friction in their relationship and Vikram lends his ears to the wifes woes. On the other hand the writer, who is nonchalant and trying to ignore the problem, starts discussing science fiction with Vikram. They are soon joined by the computer scientists who are much younger compared to rest but have been close to Vikram since their start up company was funded by him. As they settle down wondering why Vikram had invited them, he breaks open the discussion with the eternal question of God. As they answer his question, he gets a consensus on their belief. He puts forward the idea of extra-terrestrials living here on earth. He gets varied response ranging from outright laughter to serious thought. One of the scientist comes up with Fermi paradox and the Drake equation to side the idea that it is possible. Not everyone accepts, the writer and his wife voice concern over the fact that everything can be explained using science. They delve into the ancient epics of India which they claim are true. The scientist does not accept this and comes up with the only explanation tangible, the ancient astronaut theory. Vikram finds the right moment and spills his words out quoting from the Gita and sounding as if it was he who is part of it. Initially it leads to confusion among the others and they speculate till one of them hits the obvious. Vikram makes the claim that he is an extra-terrestrial. The disbelief in Vikrams words leads to interrogation of his arrival, his ability to survive here on earth and his home planet. They keep asking him questions on the age of his planet, beginning of life in his planet as well as in general everywhere. The answer he gives astounds them and throws their basic belief into a soup. This stirs resentment especially in the Hindu fanatic writer who begins defending the religion and its history. He turns sore and starts demanding evidence. They all reach a point when providing evidence is the only way forward and Vikram agrees to let their mutual biologist friend test him for his DNA and prove that it is not that of a human or even earthly origin. As they wait for their friend they experience strange feeling never felt before. When the friend arrives instead of Vikram alone they all agree to test. The test results baffle each one of them as they find out the truth. This puts them into different emotions and they react to the fact that Vikram wants them to accompany him to learn and be a part of something bigger than their life. As humans they protest and revolt only to realize that the end is not what they had imagined all this while. Light Year Man was written after being inspired by many single set location based stories beginning from Alfred Hitchcocks Rope, Sidney Lumets 12 Angry Men to Jerome Bixby\Richard Schenkmans The Man from Earth. It questions our existence in this universe and our claim of being rare. This story connects well with many of us who have spent time debating our beliefs with friends and becoming aware of stranger things around us.
