Private Project

Ma, Ajji, Me

‘Ma, Ajji, Nanu’ (Ma, Grandma, Me) is a documentary that follows the filmmaker as she documents the two eminent women in her life and her relationship with them. The commonalities we share as Indian women. Indian women from different upbringings, cultural
exposures, and generations. Through intimate conversations and shared experiences, we uncover the complexities
and nuances of the Indian woman’s experience through the eyes of three
women across generations.

These discussions play throughout the film as the filmmaker sits on her bed and flips old family photographs; this creates a sense of nostalgia, which is then intercut between snippets of their lives and her childhood drawings.

This film is a path of discovery.
Unveiling the stories behind the two women who raised the filmmaker to be who she is today.

  • Lakshmi Vidyasagar
    Director
  • Arathi Vidyasagar
    Key Cast
    "Ma"
  • Shakunthala B.T.
    Key Cast
    "Ajji"
  • Hitesh Chaurasia
    Guide
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Realtionships, Motherhood, Family, Childhood, Feminism
  • Runtime:
    31 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 22, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    61,500 INR
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English, Kannada
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - National Institute of Design
Director Biography - Lakshmi Vidyasagar

Lakshmi Vidyasagar is Visual Designer and Filmmaker based in Bangalore, India. Being an Indian raised in a white world has led her to create design with conflict and art that takes on a discourse of power. Through her interactions she tries to re-define social benchmarks and create work that speaks to the contemporary world.



She aims to have a more multidisciplinary and exploratory approach in order to gain a more layered representation of the lens in which she views the world through.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I’ve grown up in a typical patriarchal South Indian household; the women clean, cook, and take care of the kids, the husband’s unattended chores, and the overall wellbeing of the house. The men of the house go off to work for the majority of their day, seven times a week, spending long hard hours earning for the financial stability of the house.

At least, living under the bounds of strong patriarchal practices gave me a lot of time to grow up with the women of my house. I was taught valuable lessons and ethics from my Ajji (grandmother) and learned to be strong and sincere from my mother. These two women have been my role models as a young girl.

I grew particularly close to my Ajji when I was young; I drew fond of her warmth and unconditional love. Like most grandmothers, she would pamper me plenty, spend a lot of time with me and tell me religious tales.

On the other hand, my mother helped me grow; if my growth ever stopped, she would build a support structure to help me climb up again. She didn’t spoil me as much as my Ajji did, but taught me ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ and protected me from all things evil. She educated me, told me off when she needed to, and loved me quietly.

I want to dedicate this documentary to these two impactful women. I don’t reckon I would be the woman I am today if it weren’t for them; if anything, I owe it to them. This documentary opens up stories of unresolved torment and a deeper look into their lives.

This film is not a statement, it’s purely just a representation of my relationship and the stories behind my mother and grandmother. This film helped me put things into perspective and allowed me to understand my history but also draw deeper and closer connections with my family.