Cargo (2019)
A quietly inventive Hindi sci-fi drama that reimagines death, rebirth, and bureaucracy aboard a lonely spaceship orbiting Earth.
Cargo - Movie Information
Cargo - Plot
Prahastha, a lonely astronaut, works in a spaceship. Every morning, his spaceship comes close to Earth and Cargos are delivered at the arrival bay. These Cargos are people who have just died on Earth and we learn that Prahastha works for Post Death Transition Services — a large, pioneering, bureaucratic company that stores, transitions, and recycles dead people for rebirth. Today, after many years, a young, popular astronaut — Yuvishka, trained in cutting edge technology, will join the spaceship as his assistant.
Cargo - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a glimpse into Prahastha's extraordinary afterlife operation:
Meaning of Life and Living
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Cargo - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Arati Kadav
Main Cast
- Vikrant Massey
- Shweta Tripathi Sharma
- Nandu Madhav
- Biswapati Sarkar
- Surender Thakur
- Hansal Mehta
- Prabal Panjabi
- Konkona Sen Sharma
- Anjum Rajabali
Writers
- Arati Kadav
Producers
- Navin Shetty
- Anurag Kashyap
- Shlok Sharma
- Arati Kadav
- Zain Matcheswalla
Cargo - FAQs
What is the concept of Post Death Transition Services in Cargo?
Post Death Transition Services (PDTS) is a fictional bureaucratic organization in Cargo that manages the afterlife. When people die on Earth, their bodies are sent to a spaceship where astronauts like Prahastha process, store, and prepare them for rebirth, blending mythology with science fiction in a uniquely Indian narrative framework.
What is Cargo about?
Cargo follows Prahastha, a solitary astronaut stationed on a spaceship that receives the recently deceased from Earth. He works for Post Death Transition Services, a bureaucratic company that processes dead souls for rebirth. His routine is disrupted when Yuvishka, a tech-savvy young astronaut, joins as his assistant, prompting reflection on loneliness, purpose, and mortality.
Who are the main actors in Cargo?
Cargo stars Vikrant Massey as the introspective astronaut Prahastha and Shweta Tripathi Sharma as his enthusiastic new assistant Yuvishka Shekhar. The supporting cast includes Nandu Madhav, Biswapati Sarkar, Surender Thakur, Hansal Mehta, Prabal Panjabi, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Anjum Rajabali.
Does Cargo draw from Hindu mythology?
Yes, Cargo is deeply rooted in Hindu mythological concepts. The film reimagines the idea of rebirth and the cycle of life and death (samsara) through a science fiction lens. Prahastha himself is inspired by the demon Prahastha from the Ramayana, and the afterlife bureaucracy reflects traditional beliefs about the soul's journey after death.
Who directed Cargo?
Cargo was written and directed by Arati Kadav, marking her feature film directorial debut. Kadav crafted a deeply personal and imaginative vision, blending Indian mythology with low-budget science fiction. The film was produced by Navin Shetty, Anurag Kashyap, Shlok Sharma, Arati Kadav, and Zain Matcheswalla.
When was Cargo released?
Cargo was released on September 9, 2020. Originally produced in 2019, the film had its wider release through Netflix India, making it accessible to international audiences. It is rated PG-13 and runs for approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes.
What genre is Cargo?
Cargo blends Science Fiction, Drama, and Fantasy into a quietly meditative genre hybrid. It uses the trappings of space travel and bureaucratic sci-fi to explore deeply human themes of loneliness, purpose, mortality, and the cycle of rebirth, making it a rare and thoughtful entry in Indian speculative cinema.
What are some movies similar to Cargo?
If you enjoyed Cargo, you might appreciate PK (2014) for its blend of Indian culture and speculative storytelling, Zero (2018) for its unconventional sci-fi drama, and Court (2015) for its quietly subversive Indian filmmaking. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and Oppenheimer (2023) also share thematic or tonal connections worth exploring.
More About Cargo
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