SATURDAY, JULY 06, 2024
Dolcy D’Cruz
Now in her 70s, Sheila Audi from Caranzalem has lived a quiet life after the demise of her husband Dr Purnanand Audi. Widowed at a young age, she had to take on the responsibility of her two daughters, often missing out on the smaller pleasures of life. Now, her granddaughter Urvi Keny from Pilar is documenting her life for a special project, which is strengthening the bond between the granddaughter and grandmother.
Urvi has an eye for storytelling, whether on canvas or now on film. She is a young visual artist who completed her Bachelor's in Visual Arts at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara in 2023. Her compositions primarily feature line portraits, serving as a lens to delve into human interactions, and to observe psychological and behavioural changes amidst societal shifts. Engaging extensively in documentation, she skilfully captures diverse conversations through visual storytelling.
She has exhibited her work in various exhibitions in Goa and prestigious venues like The Jehangir Art Gallery, including the 131st Annual Art Exhibition of 'The Bombay Art Society’ and the Annual Exhibition of 'The Art Society of India’. More recently shevworked as the Production Designer of 'Guntata Hriday He (Entangled)', a film by Sainath Uskaikar which was recently selected at the South Asian Short Film Festival in the competition section and she also designed the poster of Wagro which was also directed by Sainath Uskaikar.
Urvi submitted her storyline for the documentary film for the third edition of the Doc_Commune, a space for documentary filmmakers by Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT). From all over India, 25 filmmakers have been selected for a three-month mentorship programme following which they have to submit their final pitch. "I submitted the intital pitch in January this year. We began the mentorship programmes in June and we have to submit the final synopsis with proper details including the budget by August 7. There was no specific theme but most of the filmmakers are focusing on something personal," informs Urvi.
"Sheila, my grandmother, affectionately known as 'Khakha', a 70-year-old Panjim resident and widow of Dr P Audi, resides with my aunt and her granddaughter. Born into the reputable and influential family, she navigated life with obedience and discipline. Despite securing a government job alongside her sister, she often felt deprived of life's simple pleasures, cherishing outings to fairs, movies and beaches. Khakha always encourages me to embrace modernity and career pursuits. This is my first experience as a filmmaker and she is always excited when I am shooting," explains Urvi.
With online classes through the week connecting different groups of filmmakers, on Sundays, an established filmmakers comes in for a special class. The selected filmmakers can pose questions and start implementing what they learnt while planning and shooting. The programme will commission atleast 8 non-fiction shorts which have to be submitted in January 2025.
Amoli Birewar is a researcher and producer based out of Goa. She studied film and media at the Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication in Pune. Originally from Maharashtra, she grew up in Dubai and Pune. "I moved to Goa two years ago after college for work. The production company I work for has an office in Goa. I currently stay in Panjim," says Amoli, who works at Untamed Planet, an award-winning production company based in India and New York that creates factual content for broadcast networks and streaming platforms.
As a part of Untamed Planet, she has worked on projects for National Geographic, BBC, Hyundai, Bupa and the UNEP, including the travel series Postcards from Goa for Goa Tourism and National Geographic. "I researched and produced a four-part series about Goa's wildlife, heritage, food and adventure activities called Postcards of Goa for Goa Tourism and National Geographic," she says about her work in Goa.
Amoli also freelances on various documentary projects and is developing her first documentary film as a director. Her documentary is based on Bali, a spirited young girl from the Banjara tribe in Maharashtra who dreams of becoming a professional Kabaddi player. As the only educated person in her family of farmworkers, she faces immense pressure to either find a job to support her family or get married. Her family entirely dismisses Kabaddi as unsuitable and dangerous for a girl. However, Bali is determined to write her own future - she has her eyes on a bigger prize. If she excels in upcoming tournaments, she could secure a spot with a state club for fully funded coaching. Supported by her best friends and coaches, Bali embarks on a courageous journey to pursue her passion. This documentary follows her coming-of-age struggles as she navigates the crossroads of familial duty and personal ambition. Bali refuses to let her dream be shattered and fights societal expectations to prove that talent transcends caste and financial barriers.
How important is it to tell stories with women breaking barriers? "We need films that celebrate both extraordinary women who break barriers and do brave things around the world and the often-overlooked courage of ordinary women in their everyday lives. My grandmother and mother, both homemakers, have shown remarkable bravery during difficult times. Their stories, and countless others like them, deserve to be told and celebrated. When women make courageous choices within their homes, it creates a ripple of change that transforms society. Bali's small, brave steps towards her passion will empower her to achieve extraordinary things, inspiring others to do the same," explains Amoli.
As a first time director, she is feeling that directing a film is the most daunting endeavour because it involves making countless decisions, both big and small, which constantly fills one with self-doubt. "In documentary filmmaking, you often have no idea where the journey will take you, and that's simultaneously the most stressful and exciting part of the process. Despite the stress, I know I will learn invaluable lessons along the way. This project is a personal challenge, pushing me out of my comfort zone as I explore new topics. Being
in the early stages of my career, I believe the only way to grow is to practice and immerse myself fully in these experiences," elaborates Amoli.
She loves the peace and ease of life in Goa. She feels that there is always something interesting to do, and it's easy to reconnect with nature here.
