Private Project

Harij Weds Sajili

Harij, a newlywed, is eager for dowry gifts that never arrive, while his wife Sajili, trapped in an unwanted marriage, detests his insatiable appetite for intimacy. Harij, frustrated by her reluctance, enlists Leila, a bold and pragmatic sex worker, to "train" Sajili in "marital duties".

What begins as an unorthodox intervention spirals into a sinister plot when Leila uncovers Harij’s chilling plans for dowry-related murder. And Leila is no ordinary bystander. Viewed by society through a lens of stigma, she steps into the role of a protector. In a clever twist, Leila offers Sajili a dangerous escape—faking her suicide and framing Harij.

Can Sajili escape the patriarchal nightmare, claiming her independence, her hidden dowry, and her lover, leaving Harij and his greed exposed?

In a comic-satirical take on the intersection of tradition, gender dynamics, and societal hypocrisy, Harij Weds Sajili explores the dark underbelly of dowry practices in contemporary India while celebrating female agency in the face of systemic exploitation.

  • Prataya Saha
    Director
    The Good Wife, Just Another Day, I Am, Mehmood, Shonar Khacha - The Golden Cage
  • Anagela Page
    Writer
    Sylvia, Unplugging Aunt Vera, Las Marias
  • Angela Page
    Producer
  • Anshulika Kapoor
    Key Cast
    "Leila"
  • Rutpanna Aishwarya
    Key Cast
    "Sajili"
  • Hridaan Saraswat
    Key Cast
    "Harij"
  • Ashish Athawale
    Key Cast
    "Raj"
  • Lakshmi Karthik
    Key Cast
    "Nira"
  • Anshulika Kapoor
    Executive Producer & Creative Director
    I am, Mehmood, The Golden Cage, Just Another Day, The Good Wife
  • Subha Dey
    DOP
    The Golden Cage, The Good Wife
  • Gautam Palakki
    Editor
  • Apurv Prasanna
    Sound Design & Sync Sound
    I am, Mehmood, The Golden Cage
  • Adrian Velentine Rodrigues
    Re-Recording and Mastering
    I am, Mehmood, The Golden Cage
  • Benu Bina Banik
    Production Design
    Ardha, Tumi Robe Nirobe
  • Anshulika Kapoor
    Production Design
  • Benu Bina Banik
    Associate Director
  • Ankush Deva
    Assistant DOP
  • Bidushi Roy
    1st AD
  • Kunal Raheja
    2nd AD (Continuity)
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.25:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Prataya Saha

Prataya Saha is an independent filmmaker, TEDx performer, theatre director, and photographer based in India and Dubai. His films have been selected in over 98 film festivals worldwide, winning 28 awards across 14 countries, including at Oscar, Canadian Screen Award, and BAFTA-qualifying festivals. He is known for his distinctive voice in storytelling and a panache for working on socially relevant films, often addressing uncomfortable yet important subjects.

His latest short film, "The Golden Cage", qualified for the Academy Awards 2024, further establishing his reputation as a filmmaker with global impact.

Prataya has also forayed recently in the world of non-fiction as a producer. His debut documentary, "What's the Film About?”, premiered at Visions du Réel in Switzerland, BFI LFF in the UK before winning at the prestigious IDFA in Amsterdam in 2024.
His work has been featured in leading media outlets such as the BBC UK, The Week, India Today, Times of India, The Hindu and The New Indian Express.

When not making films, Prataya travels with his camera, capturing everyday life as a street photographer—drawing inspiration for the characters in his stories.

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Director Statement

In India, the dowry system often turns marriage into a grim transaction, sometimes leading to tragic consequences. "Harij Weds Sajili" confronts this harsh reality through dark comedy—a genre that allows us to explore uncomfortable truths with humor and nuance.

As an Indian, Angela's story, inspired by true events, deeply resonated with me. The absurdity of a practice that still claims lives demanded a bold, unconventional narrative. Dark comedy, though rare in Indian cinema, provides a unique space to provoke thought while engaging audiences, making them question societal norms without alienation.

The film also embraces irony by portraying a prostitute, often disregarded by society, as the silent hero of the story—a character who challenges moral hierarchies and exposes the hypocrisy of societal judgments. Additionally, I sought to challenge the conventional portrayal of gender dynamics and moral complexities in Indian films.

"Harij Weds Sajili" isn’t just a story—it’s a satirical lens on a serious issue, aiming to entertain, provoke, and inspire change in the way we perceive entrenched social norms.