3500+ Films - 2.5 million words – 1 million viewers! Founder and Curator Carmela selects some of our most entertaining, powerful and inspiring India films at We Are Moving Stories. These include short and feature length documentary and drama about queer voices, women, real-life stories and the Indian diaspora.
Total length of this section: 27 films.
<QUEER VOICES>
Sheer Qorma is a story of belonging and acceptance, identity and family, and how it comes together under one roof, as resilient, queer Muslim women and non-binary characters of colour, choose to embrace love that exists beyond their personal beliefs and social moralities. Length: 30 minutes. Writer/Director Faraz Arif Ansari:
“I grew up in the 90’s in India. I had zero queer representation in media, television or films while growing up. Whatever representation did exist was extremely regressive and problematic that only lead to bullying and harassment. One of the reasons I wanted to be a filmmaker was to change this by bringing forward progressive queer representation so that we can open a larger dialogue on inclusion and acceptance. My latest film, Sheer Qorma, was born out of that dire need for representation.”
Long Distance - A young Indian woman living in Australia gets a call from her mum back home. Length: 7 minutes. Writer/Director Anoop Lokkur:
“I’d been wanting to make a short film based on my personal experiences, which I could explore through characters that I’d find relatable. Initially, it felt like any ideas I’d come up with was too contrived until my mum called me one night – the conversation I had with her inspired me to make this short film. She asked me how my job was; I said that my 9-to-5 was going well when in reality I’d been sitting in my living room most of the day trying to come up with film ideas. I was struck by how many lies I’d tell her just to satisfy her expectations of me.”
Evening Shadows - When you come out of the closet, you push your mother into the closet. Length: 102 minutes. Director/Producer Sridhar Rangayan:
“We made Evening Shadows to reach out to a larger audience about the need for families to accept their LGBTQ children. The film is more than a coming out film; it is about a woman steeped in traditions and conservative social mores, standing up for her son against all odds. Evening Shadows is a film of hope and courage.
We always felt that there was no mainstream film that youngsters can show their parents as a means of helping them understand their true reality, and also for families to understand more about their children. The film, made with a simple heartfelt narrative with no auteur, flourishes so it can appeal to a large family audience in India and across the world.”
Life After - While packing up her daughter’s apartment, a single mother discovers startling details about her only child, which challenge her ability to process a recent loss. Length: 13 minutes. Writer/Director Ria Tobaccowala:
“In the South Asian community, the term “American-Born Confused Desi” (“ABCD”) refers to children of immigrants who were born and raised in the United States. Being an “ABCD” suggests that as first generation Indian-Americans, we ignore our culture and solely adopt American beliefs. However, for children of immigrants, there are many nuances and challenges to defining our identities. How do we respect our family’s rich heritage and live a life true to who we are as Americans?”
Devi (Goddess) - Set in New Delhi, a closeted lesbian risks family and social boundaries as she pursues her household maid, Devi. Length: 13 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Karishma Dev Dube:
“I love would more people to watch the film. I’m proud of the performances in this film. They should be seen! Unlike the west, India is still a no-sex society where sexuality is repressed and more than often a taboo subject. I would like to play with these uncomfortable and confronting boundaries, hoping to extend this discourse to an Indian audience.”
illuminate - a cinematic poem about being in the closet. Length: 23 minutes. Director Nisha Gupta:
“While directing this film about being in the closet, I never felt so much joy move through me as by the process of transforming political trauma into hopeful art. It’s been one of the most meaningful things I have ever done in my life. I am queer Indian-American woman whose parents migrated to the U.S. from India, which recriminalized homosexuality in 2013. I know the emotional pain of the closet intimately, in a variety of ways. Directing this film, and working with such a diverse cast of queer actors and actors of color, created this beautiful blurring of boundaries between fiction and documentary.”
Naughty Amelia Jane - A clever satire on societal hypocrisy, ignorance and those that go against the grain focusing on the LGBT community. Length: 12 minutes. Writer/Director Risheeta Agrawal:
“I was always tormented by the deep seeded hypocrisy that festered in India when it came to the LGBTQI community. Our country, like many others, does not acknowledge the most basic human right to be able to love whoever we please. I have seen a lot of dear and near people severely negatively affected by this. There are a lot of groups now who are fighting for these rights. I wanted to give this cause another voice, mine.”
Angry Indian Goddesses - A roller-coaster comedy-drama which explores the many facets of women in contemporary Indian society, Angry Indian Goddesses is the story of 7 boisterous women who meet in Goa for a surprise pre-wedding bash where they find their hearts but lose their heads! Length: 104 minutes. Director Pan Nalin:
“There are series of issues already being debated about Angry Indian Goddesses: women’s empowerment, gender inequality, violence, rape…Then there was a massive censorship debate in India on our film. We had to cut out words like “sexy” “orgasm” or “Indian Figure.” I thought that was outrageous. We were asked to blur all the images of Goddesses. This entire episode started a big debate on the role of women in Modern India and is still going on!”
The Timepiece tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two people from different cultures, different generations and different sexual orientations. When Sunny (Karan Choudhary), a young, straight guy from India, meets Larry (Bill Bateman), a middle-aged gay guy in New York, they discover their shared love of film, acting, life and each other’s company. But their friendship is tested when Larry’s prized possession goes missing and he jumps to a biased conclusion accusing Sunny of the theft. Will these newfound friends overcome their differences to forget and forgive? Only time will tell. Length: 14 minutes. Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Karan Choudhary.
<WOMEN’S VOICES>
Purdah - The inspiring story of a young Indian woman who trades her burka for dreams of playing on the Mumbai Senior Women’s Cricket Team and how the harsh realities for women in her country creates an unexpected outcome for her own family, ultimately shattering and fueling aspirations. Length: 71 minutes. Director/Producer Jeremy Guy:
“We could probably talk for a long time about the themes in the film, but one that stands out the most to me is perseverance in the face of adversity, even if it is, at times, insurmountable. The women of the Mirza family have a remarkable and undeterred spirit that seems like a reflection of the spirit of so many Indian people who are dealing with incredibly difficult circumstances.”
Brave Girls - In a small town in India, the opportunity to go back to school has opened up the possibility of a different life for Karishma, Apsana and Samira. But even as they prepare for final exams, their families begin preparations for their arranged weddings, threatening to pull them back into the prescribed roles of wives and mothers. Immediately, they are forced to choose between their evolving dreams and their obligations to their community. Length: 68 minutes. Director Ellie Walton:
“How do we rewrite traditions? When must we stand up and break from unjust social norms and when is it the better choice to accommodate our community?”
Maya - Having found someone she likes, Maya is ready to commit to marriage under one non-negotiable condition: that her mother joins the household. The secret reason behind this requirement is awkwardly revealed during a loquacious exchange about love marriage over lunch between the two families. Length: 19 minutes. Writer/Director Vikas Chandra:
“I’m drawn to themes of growing up, family, relationships - what makes us respond to our immediate environment the way we do. It’s my way of decoding life and the world we live in. It’s funny that even after 20000 odd years of existence, we humans struggle to deal with each other. ”
My Scary Indian Wedding - A cursed bridesmaid is forced to track down and marry her soulmate to escape the wrath of a malevolent demon called The Manglik. Length: 12:04 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Ramone Menon:
“I wanted to make an Indian-themed horror film because when I was growing up, I would see some relatives and some relatives’ friends who were women, who were forced into marrying a tree or marrying an inanimate object before their actual wedding. When I asked why this was happening, the answer was, that those women were considered a Manglik (a woman who is considered bad luck to her first husband and his family because they are born at a particular time and date astrologically).”
<REAL-LIFE STORIES>
Machines - A kaleidoscopic and censorial meditation on the meaning of labor in an Indian textile sweatshop. Length: 72 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Rahul Jain:
“When I look at myself and count the things I am wearing, and then think in my head about the origins of all the things on my body. Let’s just take it with the iPhone. It will say designed in California, Made in China. But what about the materials where it comes from? the rare earth minerals? the lithium. The trousers I am wearing, might say “made in Italy” but what about the cotton? what about the buttons?”
Children of the Soil - A thought-provoking visual comment on events plaguing India's farmer community with its associated evils like starvation, debt trap, homelessness, deprivation, begging, suicides and urban migration to losing the very farmland that defines them. Length: 4 minutes. Writers/Directors/Producers/Editors Ranadeep Bhattacharyya and Judhajit Bagchi:
“The film was born out of the genuine calling from our conscience while we were roaming around the country to shoot a corporate social responsibility film for a corporate client. We could not avert our eyes from the painful condition in which the farmers dwell in our villages. The images of malnourished kids, starving families, drought infected lands, the cry for help stayed within us and stirred a will to do something for these humble souls because of whom we in the cities can have our daily bread. ”
Holy Cowboys - In small-town India, where cows are considered sacred, a teenage boy and his group of friends set off on a quest to become saviors of the holy cow only to find themselves under the grip of right-wing nationalism. Length: 24 minutes. Director Varun Chopra:
“It intends to capture the potent irony of violent vigilantism in the name of the cow (a docile animal considered sacred and likened to a nourishing mother), in an effort to radicalize followers of Hinduism - a religion formed on the core ideals of non-violence. .”
A Rifle and a Bag - A young Indian couple of surrendered communist rebels (Naxalites) is fighting for their children's future. Length: 89 minutes. Interview with NoCut Film Collective (Cristina Hanes - Romania, Isabella Rinaldi - Italy, Arya Rothe - India):
“We recommend you our film firstly to get to know Somi, a strong and inspiring female character but also for a window into a very relevant political issue that is very controversial in India and across Asia, but very little known in the rest of the world..”
Ask The Sexpert is a feature length documentary about a highly popular 93—year-old sex advice columnist, Dr. Watsa, who writes for a daily newspaper in Mumbai. Despite sex being a taboo topic in that country, the column's brand of non—moralistic advice and humor has emboldened many to write in with their questions, the vast majority of whom seek basic information. The columnist gains popularity even while a ban on comprehensive sex education in schools is adopted by approximately one third of India's states. Length: 80 minutes. Director/Producer Vaishali Sinha.
The Timekeeper - A man desperately seeks to preserve his life long passion for creating analog clocks in an era of digital totality. Length: 5 minutes. Director/Producer/Editor Sohil Vaidya:
“I was searching for a person to repair my old mechanic clock. My friend Nandini Hate-Mane suggested Mr.Deshpande’s name as she was familiar with his work. He is one of the last watchmaker, repairer of the old mechanic clocks in Pune. When I met him, I felt a personal connection with this 80 years old man who is striving to preserve his sense of self and refusing to give up his craft in this rapidly changing times.”
Call Me Dancer - Manish is a young and talented street dancer from the City of Dreams, Mumbai. He struggles against his parents’ insistence that he follow a traditional path because they depend on their only son's support. When he accidentally walks into an inner-city dance school and encounters acurmudgeonly 70-year-old Israeli ballet master, a hunger develops within him. Ambitious and passionate, Manish is now determined to make it as a professional dancer, but the odds are stacked against him. A magical journey from the streets of Mumbai to the stages of New York. Length: 84 minutes. Director/Producer Leslie Shampaine:
“Ballet has historically been dominated by those with means. Access to the top levels is not just limited to those with talent but those who can afford to sacrifice aspects of normal life to pursue their dreams of becoming professional dancers. Today this has only marginally changed. These obstacles are even more pronounced for many of Yehuda’s students who come from backgrounds where dance has never existed beyond the scope of cultural expression and celebration. Let alone as a profession.”
ആശാൻ(Asan) I āśān I - A film that gets you closer to the extremely complex style of singing of Master Kalamandalam Gangadharan. Length: 69 minutes. Writer/Director Ratheesh:
“As a connoisseur of the art form ‘Kathakali’, I had the opportunity to listen to the Master closely. His complex style and uncompromising approach to music made him a man of few audiences. Thus, I felt it it was my responsibility to make this film so that there will be something left of him, saving for the future. ”
Yogacharya B. K. S. Iyengar: Uniting Through Yoga - A documentary that explores the legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, this film will take you on an emotional journey that encompasses the yogic practice and personal life of one of the greatest yoga masters to have ever lived. Length: 1 hour 15 minutes. Writer/Director/Editor Vishaal Desai:
“As someone who has struggled with anxiety and an inability to achieve peace of mind, I was fascinated to learn how yoga could have a positive impact not just on physical health but also on mental health.”
Ocean in a Drop - Entrepreneur Osama Manzar wants to bring a billion rural Indians online by 2020. This documentary belongs to a trilogy of films on our platform by Andrew Garton dealing with resilient communities responding to grief, native customary rights and the right to be informed. The other films include Higher Ground and Forged From Fire. Length: 55 minutes. Director/Producer Andrew Garton:
“The film demonstrates this bold ambition by the uncompromising zeal of the Foundation’s co-founder, Osama Manzar. We also see how diverse their means for broadband outreach is, from far-reaching wireless networks to basic computer desktop training in rural communities and the impact this is having on women and children in particular.”
<DIASPORA>
AMMA - A young Indian woman moves to a new culture, and realises she is stronger then she could have ever imagined. Length: 12 minutes. Writer/Director Anusha Muller:
“It’s been great to see that people really thrive on seeing diversity on film - and are crying out to see their stories on the big screen as well! At times it felt like a risk telling a personal story but it’s been one really worth taking. ”
A Sari for Pallavi - When traditional Thini & promiscuous Pallavi get into a culture clash, Pallavi has to decide between honoring the Indian traditions of her family or to stay true to her modern American identity. Length: 10 minutes. Director Kate Chamuris:
“I wanted to find the vulnerability in the comedy of Sunita’s dialogue. When someone watches this, I want them to see themselves mirrored in one of these two characters and be able to not only laugh but know they are not going through this alone.”
Kanavu - A young woman connects to her ancestry and culture through discovering a garment belonging to her grandmother. Length: 3 minutes. Writer/Cinematographer S. Lakmé Iyengar:
“This story touches on the idea that tangible objects from the past reconnect us to history and where we come from. I’m a first generation Indian-Australian, and like anyone that has grown up between two cultures, I have spent much of my life trying to bridge this cultural gap and find where I belong.
A way that I have connected to my heritage is through wearing the sari, a garment that is a rite of passage for the women in my family. It’s a one size fits all piece of clothing that can be passed through generations. That positive association with my culture was what I wanted to evoke with this film.”
<HORROR>
Hunger - During the Bengal Famine of 1770, in British colonized India a starving man comes across a landlord who invites him for lunch. Soon the hungry man discovers something terrifying. Length: 5:00 minutes. Writer/Director Junayed Alavi:
“The story is very much personal but the theme it’s carrying is universal. The Monster theme is an allegory of society. The Horror of hunger is real. It’s still a major issue in several third-world countries.”