Struggles and Pursuits: an Indian woman filmmaker

Last night I went out to dinner with a twenty-something Indian friend who is making her first commercial feature film. We went to a new Mexican restaurant which both of us hadn’t tried before. Despite being a Saturday night, there were very few people in the restaurant. Has recession really scared people from going out? We had a nice corner table in an alcove, which meant we had both the outside view and inside view. It was a nice balmy evening and the conversation flowed. As it always does when two single women get together. Surprisingly, it was not about men or relationships. She told me all about her adventures while making her first film in Kannada but set in USA. I quite enjoyed listening to her about her shooting schedules, organizing props, dealing with actors and other professionals. Sometimes it’s the VISA issues, others it is the actor’s dates, something or the other has cropped up and delayed her film but she is still holding on as excited as ever about her first film. What is most striking about her is that she is a multi-talented person, but very unassuming. She has co-written the screenplay, directing the film and the dances, doing the costumes and also editing her film besides other problems.

The story about how she got into filmmaking is most interesting. Although she always wanted to make a film, she didn’t know when. One day she was at her office working and she said, she realised that she wanted to jump out of the window. That’s when she quit her job, moved to her parents’ place, started writing her first film, organized the finances and now directing her first feature film. I believe she is probably the youngest woman film directors in India.

I think when people are passionate about something, they just find a way to do it and the struggles do not overpower their pursuit.