QUESTION#1: How do your top 3 favorite films influence your filmmaking?:

This is kind of hard to answer because I don't just have a top 3. There are too many films out there that inspires, inform and creates an impact in my heart and my mind. However, if I have to, it would be Deepa Mehta's trilogy - Earth/ Fire/ Water, Barry Jenkins' - Moonlight and Mira Nair's - Salaam Bombay! These brilliant writers and directors write intimate stories that speaks to the heart with significant cultural impact. The characters in each of these movies are so relevant and real and a lot of times, hidden from normal society. As people and brilliant talents of colour, they have something to say and say it so profoundly. And of course, there is the fact that both Deep Mehta and Mira Nair are strong female South Asian writers and directors. How can I not be inspired and influenced with the way they are paving the road for people like me?

QUESTION#2: What do you wish someone would ask you about your film and why?:

I wish they would ask - Can you tell me more about what happens to these women after they get out of domestic violence. What is their journey? Where do they go? Who do they talk to? Where and how can we help? It is just important for society to understand that a life after domestic violence is not all rosy and clean and straight-cut. These survivors are faced with a whole new set of obstacles to overcome. I want people to understand that.

QUESTION#3: What scared you the most about making this film?:

That I may offend the South Asian community. They can be very conservative and do not wish anyone to look at their culture and the people as bad seeds. The truth is, every race and creed goes through this epidemic and I was totally supported by my cast, crew and the organization that helps South Asian survivors. If anything, they are grateful that my film speaks of truth.

QUESTION#4: You have to choose one to make your next movie: 1) unlimited budget but only a single take of every shot 2) Academy award winning composer, but they're not allowed to watch the film 3) A-list cast, but they're directed using only charades. Which one do you pick and why?:

Yikes...what a question. Err...none? Will the composer get to read the synopsis, read the script? If so, then the Academy Award winning composer because then I trust him/her/them/they to go by feeling - What compels them, what affects them, how the characters speak to them.

QUESTION#5: What's does the future hold for this film and you?:

Right now I am currently working on the feature script for this film and I have been asked many times if I will expand on the story as the ones who have watched it have all felt a sort of impact and want to root for my protagonist, So I hope I can do this while riding high with the short film and when the script is done, shop it around to producers/agents/managers/competitions and hopefully, something encouraging and beautiful will come out of it.

Social media tags to share with our readers: https://www.instagram.com/madhavifilm/

URL link(s) to cool BTS images and videos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gyprfJh76PlxtUh3jeDRi0hsggBa1--k