Seed and Spark - Devi (Goddess)
Set in New Delhi, a closeted lesbian risks family and social boundaries as she pursues her household maid, Devi.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Karishma Dev Dube
Watch Devi (Goddess) here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I wanted to examine class and sexuality within an upper middle class contemporary Indian family setting. I loved the idea of rendering an unconventional family of women in a situation that forces them to revisit their family dynamics in view of existing societal norms.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
For its performances! The film explores powerful moments and themes occurring within a family of strong, opinionated women- all of which have been captured by wonderful performances.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Help at home is very common in middle to upper classes in India. This informal labour market forms the bloodline of the Indian household. I was raised by a woman who worked for the family, however she is no less than a second mother to me even today. Till today, I often have to defend that intimacy with her to others. The characters in Devi are versions of women I have learnt from and grown up with, and has been filmed in my childhood home.
I think the film is universal in its conflicts-It's about instincts and attraction and how they are able to operate eccentrically, often in spite of what is socially acceptable. Tara and Devi’s relationship is not easy to define and that excites me as a writer. What is sometimes visceral to us may be unusual to others.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I made this film over the course of my second year at the graduate film school at NYU. I developed the script for about six months in New York. I had a good idea of what I wanted the film to look and feel like, and we shot the film very true to the script, but it was changed significantly during the edit-the actors elevated the material so much!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback and support has been surprisingly good this past year, I’m so grateful! I think some people were a little uncomfortable with the 4:3 aspect ratio. This film is a very personal glimpse into the world of Delhi’s middle class decadence; I think people enjoyed the novelty of that Indian atmosphere on film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was challenged as a writer, it was very interesting to travel with the short and be developing it into a feature script at the same time. I had to constantly revisit these characters and question their motives. It’s always exciting to travel with the film to cities and spaces so far from home, especially for Indian audiences abroad.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
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.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of the above!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’d like the film to find its way to more Indian audiences in time. A lot of this film was inspired by things I have seen and experienced growing up that I’m only questioning now. I can’t battle or resolve the issues I’ve raised in my 12-minute film, but if I can instigate a conversation that is normally difficult to have, I have achieved what I intended.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is the tipping point at which relationships cease to be important?
Would you like to add anything else?
Just a big thank you to my very supportive and talented crew-I was lucky to find amazing collaborators through the process of finishing this film, from New York all the way to Delhi. Also big thanks to you for your interest and support of the work- it is much appreciated!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Besides writing the feature, I’m currently in pre-production for my next short, based on true events- Bittu, The film is a character portrait of a fiery six year old girl and her first experience with death. Our DP Zamarin Wahdat is working as a second camera unit for on a doc set in Kabul, following the lives of the young skate girls in Afghanistan.
Interview: December 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Devi (Goddess)
Set in New Delhi, a closeted lesbian risks family and social boundaries as she pursues her household maid, Devi.
Length: 13:08 mins
Director: Karishma Dev Dube
Producer: Shreya Dev Dube, Karishma Dev Dube, Jovan James
Writer: Karishma Dev Dube
About the writer, director and producer:
Karishma Dev Dube is an Indian filmmaker based in New York. She was introduced to film while working as a production assistant on several documentaries and independent features in Mumbai, including TED fellow Shalini Kantayya’s documentary Chasing the Sun.
A recipient of the Dean’s fellowship, Karishma is currently a thesis MFA student at the Graduate Film Program at NYU. Her recent short film Devi (Goddess) has been shown at a number of festivals around the world including the BFI London Film Festival 2017, LA Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, Short Shorts film festival in Japan, Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Karishma intends to continue making films that challenge cultural assumptions, both about and within her country.
Key cast: Priyanka Bose, Aditi Vasudev, Tanvi Azmi
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Producers, distributors, journalists.
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devi.goddess.shortfilm/
Made in association with: NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?