Nainaa

CANNES NOT WAIT 💙🧿

This one is going to be long and mostly about @meharmalhotrafilm, I know filmmaking takes a village. It’s one of the most collaborative art forms but this only becomes a reality when the director truly wants to COLLABORATE with everyone and that’s who Mehar Malhotra is.

From the day she entered film school or perhaps even earlier, she was clear. She isn’t here to make cinema that’s agreeable, palatable or easy. Our room no. 12 was always filled with piles of books and posters of her favourite films. She watched a film (maybe more) almost every single day. Spent hours discussing, dissecting and dreaming in the balcony about the cinema she wants to make.

- “Naina, I want to explore grief but from the lens of sensuality.” That was her 3 shot exercise. SLIDE 3
- “I am wondering how would a woman who has never seen a man, live her life.” - 8 shot exercise SLIDE4
- I want to confront the commodification of our bodies.
I want to document the real and lived female body. - montage
- I want to study and document the life of a female auto driver in Pune. - still my favourite film of hers - Malakawa
- I want to explore the rage and complexities of a daughter’s relationship with her ailing mother - Nirattar, her dialogue film in which she cast her own mom and myself
- Naina, I’m going to explore a male protagonist. It’s unlike something I’ve ever done before. Are you on board?

When it’s a MM film, you just yes. There’s no other answer. Mehar, I’ve seen you toil and torment yourself through each film, give it your everything and want nothing in return but impact. I’ve seen you go beyond making a film and actually helping the people whose stories you want to tell. I’ve firsthand experienced your care, both as a friend and artist.

Being at Cannes is a privilege but what makes it rare is that we’re doing this together! I don’t know how many people get to say - I made a film with my best friend and it’s going to Cannes!

I love you. You know it. The world is about to know you and boy aren’t they going to LOVEEE you so much.
This is just the beginning 🧿💙

Chak de Phatte

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