A newly relocated teenager, Aliena, struggles to adjust to her new school. A popular girl from her class, Sheena, intervenes when Aliena is bullied in the cafeteria and invites her to join their group. Not everyone is welcoming and happy with Aliena’s inclusion in the group. Halfway through the academic term, a new girl joins their class. Aliena quickly forms a bond with her new classmate because of their common past. But in doing so, Aliena oversteps the unspoken rule of Sheena’s group. The friendships start to unravel, triggering insecurities and raising concerns about how far they will go to hurt each other. Notice Me Now is an introspective social drama that portrays the changing social behaviours of urban teenagers, family relationships in today's hyper-connected world, and the universal need to belong.
Aakash Prabhakar is an Indian Actor, filmmaker, and theatre director, and the founder of Here And Now , a multidisciplinary production company. He has built a diverse and impactful career across both theatre and film.
In 2019, he directed and starred in his debut feature film Freddie’s Piano, which was selected for the New York Indian Film Festival (2021) and screened at over 20 international festivals. The film received accolades, including Best Director at the Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati, Best Feature Film at the DC South Asian Film Festival, and the Jury Award for Best Film at the Indigo Moon Film Festival. Aakash was also nominated for Best Actor for his performance.
He stars in the upcoming official Indian adaptation of Richard Linklater’s Tape (tentatively titled How to Not Have Sex, India), originally starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Robert Sean Leonard, which is set to premiere at the New York Indian Film Festival (2026). He also recently completed the featurette Memories of a Kiss, produced by Uncombed Buddha Films, which premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival (2025).
As a filmmaker, Aakash has directed multiple short and independent projects with a focus on intimate, emotionally driven storytelling.
Aakash has directed, produced, and acted in numerous theatrical productions across India. His selected credits include Tape (Stephen Belber), Visiting Mr. Green (Jeff Baron), Cock and Bull (Mike Bartlett), *The Motherfker with the Hat* (Stephen Adly Guirgis), Salt (Dawn King), Crumpled – A Compilation of Imperfect Love Stories, and The Drum Roll.** 
The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) is the oldest, most prestigious film festival screening premieres of feature, documentary and
short films made from, of, and about the Indian subcontinent in the Independent, arthouse, alternate and diaspora genres.
