Dances with Films 2018 - 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.
Interview with Director/Producer Jeremy Guy
Watch Purdah on Tubi, Kanopy, Prime Video and iTunes
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Kaikasha’s story captivated me as soon as I met her. In her first interview, Kaikasha told us that she didn’t know any other Muslim women playing cricket and that her father just recently allowed her to remove her burka in order to play the sport. We knew right then that Kaikasha had a unique story to tell, and probably had a very interesting family life as well. Seeing that Kaikasha was navigating all of these obstacles to follow her dreams, and that she did it with such optimism and charisma, we knew we had to have Kaikasha tell her story in Purdah.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Purdah touches on a lot of topical issues today, such as burkas, Islam, and women’s issues, which I believe makes Purdah a very timely film, particularly in today’s political climate. Our film is also able to showcase a seldom-told story about people and a place that many have never really seen on film. The women in the film are also particularly charismatic and easy root for, making the film both entertaining and informative.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
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.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
While we were filming Purdah, the real life story took some really dramatic turns that we never could have seen coming. We had to adjust our expectations of where the film was heading and follow the real life events as they unfolded. Ultimately I think the story revealed a more complete picture of the lives of the Mirza sisters and the immense challenges for many Muslim women in India.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Audiences have really connected with the film, which is great to see. So many people have told me that while they seemingly have little in common with the women Mirza family, they found them to be very easy to root for and very relatable. After our World Premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival, a young girl, whom her mother described as a budding feminist, told me that Purdah was the best film that she had ever seen. It’s moments like those that really make all of your years of hard work feel truly worthwhile.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has not really surprised or challenged my point of view. However, I do find different people’s passionate opinions about what should be done to help women like those in the Mirza family really interesting.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would just love for more people to be able to learn about our film and have a chance to see it on screen. I think Kaikasha and her sisters have an important to story to tell, so hopefully articles like these can help us find and connect with our audience.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Our biggest task at the moment is probably finding the right sales agent and distributors so that as many people as possible can watch Purdah. We are currently talking to several distributors and we are hoping to find the right fit soon.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Roger Ebert famously said that movies are like “a machine that generates empathy.” Particularly given the current political climate, I hope that audiences both outside and inside India can empathize with women in such a challenging situation like the Mirza sisters, and share in their hopes and dreams. If the film can make an incremental change in people’s awareness of what women like those in the Mirza family are going through, then I think that the film will be a success.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The issue of women wearing a burka is certainly a controversial one and it is an issue that the Mirza women have to deal with directly in the film. Even the Mirza sisters themselves have different opinions on whether they want to wear a burka. As I am responding to this question, I’m reading about multiple new countries that have just banned the burka in at least certain circumstances, so the controversy will not be going away anytime soon.
Would you like to add anything else?
For the readers of this article, please feel free to reach out to the filmmaking team of Purdah. We would love to hear what you think about the film and be able to engage with our audience. You can find us on social media and at www.purdahfilm.com.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Jeremy Guy, the director and cinematographer, is currently developing some new sports documentaries and is speaking with collaborators and investors.
Interview: June 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
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: Jeremy Guy
Producer: Jeremy Guy and Sushrut Jain
About the writer, director and producer
JEREMY GUY is an award winning director and cinematographer based in Los Angeles. His work includes narrative feature films, major television shows, and independent documentaries.
SUSHRUT JAIN was born in Mumbai and is currently living in Los Angeles. Sush is a working director and is currently shooting his next film.
Key cast: Kaikasha Mirza, Saba Mirza, Heena Mirza
Looking for: Sales agents, distributors, and film festival directors.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/purdahfilm
Twitter: @purdahfilm
Instagram: @purdahfilm
Website: www.purdahfilm.com
Funders: Jeremy Guy Films, LLC
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Dances with Films 2018