Private Project

Fool's Gold

Anu, is an Indian sculptor struggling to make ends meet. He applies for a grant to fund his sculptures but gets rejected. In order to make money, he dresses up in gold paint and stands on a platform in Central Park pretending to be a statue. One day, he runs into his old friend Seth who is a successful artist.
Seth invites Anu to a dinner party to celebrate his upcoming MOCA exhibition. Anu pretends that he won the grant money in order to impress Seth and the other guests at the party. However, the truth is revealed during dinner, causing Anu to leave humiliated.
In the end, Anu comes to terms with his situation and finds solace in his faith and art. He donates his finished sculpture of Ganesh to a Hindu temple.

  • Vidhu Kota
    Director
  • Vidhu Kota
    Writer
  • Alexandria Brinkman
    Producer
  • Balan
    Key Cast
    "Anu"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 13, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Pratt Institute
Director Biography - Vidhu Kota

As an Indian filmmaker in the city, Vidhu crafts films that draw inspiration from the duality of the two rich cultures that have significantly influenced his life. His creations explore the intricacies of navigating life in a foreign land, probing the intersections of culture and identity. The narratives within his films are personal, relatable, and challenge cultural stereotypes, all while addressing universal themes such as love, loss, and the quest for a home. Vidhu brings a distinctive perspective and voice to the diverse realm of contemporary South Asian storytelling.

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Director Statement

"Fool's Gold" is a whispered prayer for the dreamers, the ones clinging to a passion deemed impractical. Anu's story mirrors mine - a flicker of artistic rebellion ignited in a world choked by expectations. Every voice, from family to friends, echoed with doubt, fueling a fire that threatened to consume me. Success became an obsession, a desperate shield against the prophecy of failure.
New York, a city of relentless striving, mirrors the internal struggle. Here, amidst the concrete jungle, I, like Anu, yearn for the comfort of a simpler faith, a whisper of "everything will be alright."
This film isn't about the gilded facades we wear but about the raw truth beneath. Anu finds solace not in the fleeting validation from others, but in the act of creation - a testament to the unwavering human spirit and the transformative power of art. It's a story woven with hope and heartbreak, a love letter to those who chase their dreams, even with a tremor of fear in their hearts.