My journey in visual storytelling is deeply rooted in the personal and the political. I believe storytelling is about understanding the forces that shape our choices and make us who we are as individuals. At the same time as an artist we need to be aware of the impact our work can have on others. This awareness drives my focus on exploring lived human experiences, divulging into memory, history, culture and socio-political realities through my films.
Most of my films center around women and the South Asian diaspora. My recent film, ‘Have A Good One’, is based on the experiences of immigrants living in North America. During my research, I came across several instances of Indian students who couldn’t tell their parents about the challenges of living abroad as their families had invested thousands of dollars on their education, often going into debt.
My directorial debut, ‘Smaran’, was inspired by the memoirs of my rebellious great-grandmother, who challenged patriarchal traditions within our family. Through this film, I wanted to shed light on individual histories, emphasizing the power and resilience of women in shaping our world. ‘Smaran’ won the Best Screenplay award at the 9th Kolkata International Film Festival 2020 and was screened at various film festivals including 17th IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival 2021, the 3rd Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival 2020, and Lift-off Global Network First-Time Filmmaker Sessions..
My current project, ‘Dolma’, is a film that focuses on the loss of a friend who lived her life in exile as a Tibetan refugee in India. Her story is one of resilience and pain, reflected through the lens of Buddhist teachings of the Four Noble Truths. At best, it teaches us about how to look at one’s life and understand the purpose of it. Pasang’s life also stands as a testament to the Tibetan diaspora that have had to live through several challenges of exile, beholding the idea of impermanence.
‘Dolma’ is both poetic and reflective, serving as an ode to life’s essence and the transient nature of existence. For me, documentaries are a two way process. While making this film, I got to interact with several people who have left a deep impact on me. I hope that viewers take away something meaningful from this film—a tribute to a friend who lived a life devoted to service.
Purandhya Sharma 