Dreaming big

The Cannes Film Festival to most is all about the red-carpet appearances of Bollywood actresses. However, there is another short film fest on stories about differently-abled people held in the city around the same time called The International Festival Entr’2 Marches. And making waves at this film fest is an Indian short film by Anusha Srinivasan.  

A Mumbai-based Writer-Media Strategist and Image Management Consultant, Anusha’s short film The World in my Dreams (Saare Sapne Apne Hain) is garnering a  positive response. ‘It’s a 5-minute 20-second film with minimal dialogue, and yet the love and attention it has gathered has been amazing. Everyone appreciated the movie, and some even came and hugged me,” said an ecstatic Anusha.

Talking about how the idea for this film germinated, Anusha goes down memory lane. After an indulgent shopping excursion in Kolkata, she chanced upon two urchins. She felt compelled to do something, so she bought jhaal muri, lime water and cucumber for a total of `14. The two boys relished it and then spared the cucumber for their brother at home. This simple act of kindness made her realise that true happiness lies in what you have and not in stocking up things that you don’t need.  

Another instance that stands out in her memory is when she offered leftover daal to a homeless woman, and her daughter devoured it with such hunger that it tugged at Anusha’s heart. And that’s how the story about a mute boy who works at a tea stall took shape. Even though he has his dreams, he pays forward a tip of `500 that he receives. Being content is about being in the present.

The family chipped in to make this dream happen for Anusha who has also written the script. Her 16-year-old son, Vedant Gill plays the protagonist, while her older son Siddhant Gill donned the hat of a producer along with her brother Ramachandran Srinivasan. Her sister Nandini Vishwanathan handled media relations while her friend Mudasir Ali composed the film’s music. Friends and extended family contributed with the supporting cast and props. This film, shot over two days, was made on hope, prayer and a shoestring budget of under a lakh.

“I have spent more money on sending it to different festivals,” laughs Anusha who has sent the entry to 22 national and international film festivals already.  There are another 20 odd more fests to go to in Russia, Berlin, Australia, Pune, etc. Anusha however, has already moved to another subject, a 90-minute film based on a little boy who wants to find music within. Well, good luck then.