DOCUMENTARIES
mental health stories to & from south asians
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sanatana dharma to & from south asians
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spirituality to & from south asians
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astrology to & from south asians
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education to & from south asians
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community to & from south asians
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films to & from south asians
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mental health stories to & from south asians ∙ sanatana dharma to & from south asians ∙ spirituality to & from south asians ∙ astrology to & from south asians ∙ education to & from south asians ∙ community to & from south asians ∙ films to & from south asians ∙
Volume 4 remains my most personal and transformative project to date.
The idea did not arrive through planning or strategy, but through instinct. I felt called to begin a new way of working—bringing the entire creative process in-house and allowing myself to sit fully inside the world I was building. As the concept slowly revealed itself, the symbolism became impossible to ignore. In astrology, the number four represents home, family, foundation, and the mother. It posed a question I could no longer avoid: What does home mean to me? And which home am I speaking of?
This inquiry led me inward and outward at the same time. By tapping into the Indian American experience and weaving in the scriptures I was actively studying, the project began to take shape organically. These influences did not feel separate, they informed one another. Volume 4 became an investigation into belonging, lineage, and rupture now known as Duty, Devotion and Destruction.
It investigates what brings us together through the Summer Solstice, what holds us up through Autumnal Equinox, & what divides us through the Winter Solstice.
What began as a photographic exploration soon demanded a deeper form of storytelling. Once the shoots were complete, I felt compelled to preserve the process, the conversations, and the emotional undercurrents behind the work. That impulse led to the creation of three documentaries, marking the very beginning of my filmmaking journey. At the time, I had never touched Final Cut, nor had I worked with a collaborative film team. Yet, driven by curiosity and conviction, I stepped into every role—designing, writing, directing, and editing each piece from start to finish.
The impact of that decision continues to shape me. Volume 4 did more than produce images and films—it fundamentally changed the way I engage with storytelling. It pushed me into a rigorous and ongoing study of cinema, direction, and visual language, and set the foundation for the work I continue to pursue today.
behind the scenes
