I consider myself a truly independent, “cottage industry” filmmaker, my work characterized by an ardent desire for originality and a quest for rooted, and provocative storytelling. Whether by begging, borrowing and stealing (!) to make a short outside the film school system, or directing India’s first DV feature prior to the digital boom, I remain committed to a hands-on, no-holds-barred approach to filmmaking…

Having graduated from Delhi University’s St. Stephen’s College, I went on to assist renowned Indian filmmaker Kumar Shahani, in turn a student of masters like Ghatak and Bresson.

My debut short, SWAMOHITA, screened In Competition at the VENICE FILM FESTIVAL in 2000. I was 23 years old at the time I wrote, produced and directed this film against all the odds on 3 year-old balance 35mm stock! SWAMOHITA was sold to an Italian distributor, Village SRL, an unprecedented achievement for an Indian short film.

Made in 2002, my first feature DIVYA DRISHTI was produced for under US$ 10,000 and shot in a mere 7 days! DIVYA DRISHTI won awards for Best Film, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor at the KaraFilm Festival in Pakistan. Despite being banned by the Indian Censor Board, the film has travelled widely and been sold across platforms, including the Zee Cinema Channel and the Exclusive Internet Rights were recently acquired by iFilm Connections: Asia & Pacific (www.asianfilms.org)

Currently, I’m completing my second feature PAIRON TALLE (aka SOUL OF SAND). Awarded the prestigious Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Co-Produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India, the project premieres in 2010.

Aside from directing narrative films, my independent production outfit Reel Illusion Films makes turnkey projects – clients include UNESCO and Delhi Government. I also provide Script consultation and was recently commissioned by Turner Entertainment to write India’s first English animation series titled SULOCHANA AND THE NATURE DETECTIVES for The Cartoon Network.

As an independent on “the road not taken”, I sincerely believe in creating opportunities for myself. My undying, almost naive love for the cinema gives me the strength to persevere making the films I believe in. And so the quest continues…