IN DEVELOPMENT
I've always had two aspirations with what I make, which is to entertain and inspire. Most of my career I have worked in comedy but over the last few years there has been burgeoning desire to tell more personal stories. I am child of immigrant Indian South African parents and I have lived in four different countries in my lifetime. It has enriched my life and given me countless valuable experiences but it’s has not been seen in my work.
The past couple of years have been difficult and has made all of us take stock of our lives. Outside of the Coronavirus pandemic the brutal murder of George Floyd has fired something in me. It genuinely unsettled me in ways I hadn’t expected. This along with the efforts Black Lives Matter movement pushed me to re-examine some of my life events.
I had to ask myself hard questions. What I am doing to change the world? What am I doing to improve the lives of my children? The answer was very little. “Be the Change you want to be in this world” is a quote that is often used. I now want this to be my mantra when it comes to my work.
I want to tell stories that entertain but also inspire and make people think. I want to make stories that have real meaning to me, I want to make films that my children will watch and feel proud. It will be the change I want in this world.
PROJECTS
A TRIP TO GERMANY
A German state funded drama-comedy short film currently in post-production. It draws on personal experience of my father needing emergency surgery whilst travelling overseas and my time there in helping him recover. It explores the relationships between child and parent and learning to forgive to move forward.
UNCONVENTIONAL: DOCUSERIES
People who do things differently or lead lives outside the norm have always fascinated me. This series looks at people and perspectives that are a bit unconventional.
WALK IN MY SHOES
A completely different take on the "Body Swap"comedy trope. What happens with a lonely, racist older white man swaps bodies with a middle aged black man juggling life? What does living life in someone else's shoes do to your perspective on life?
LEGACY: THE STORY OF INDENTURED LABOUR
With the abolition of slavery in the 19th century the world struggled for labour. This shortage was filled by the Indian "Indentured Labour" system. My ancestor was coerced into signing a contract and sent to South Africa. This story of forced labour is almost unknown.
IN THE MIDDLE
A new take on the office comedy, it's a TV series starring a "brown" lead dealing with the 30 something pit falls of work, finding love, casual racism and figuring out what am I supposed to be doing with my life.
BRITISH
HORROR
FILM FESTIVAL
BEST DIRECTOR
I was awarded best director for my short film Another Game by the British Horror Film Festival
BEST
DIRECTOR
ASHENS AND THE POLYBIUS HEIST
For Polybius Heist, I've won best director awards from Lit Laughs Film Festival and the Fortean Film Festival
BEST
FILM
ASHENS AND THE POLYBIUS HEIST
Polybius Heist has won best feature awards from 5 different festivals.