Sukhi

A young filmmaker, navigating her plans for the future, finds that exploring her grandparents' struggles with losing their independence as they age can help soothe intergenerational anxieties. This film is almost completely in the dialect Thanjavur Marathi, spoken only by a small ethnic group in India.

  • Samyukta Panth
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 25 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    Marathi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Emerson College
Director Biography - Samyukta Panth

My name is Samyukta Panth. Born in Chennai, India, and raised in Annapolis, MD, I currently attend Emerson College in Boston for my undergraduate in film production. I believe in raw, powerful editing and thoughtful photography. Influenced by the French New Wave and independent 90s cinema, my work is strong, emotional, and concise.

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Director Statement

I have always admired my grandparents and loved listening to their stories. Their rigid morning routine entranced me as a child, and it became a source of peace and comfort as I grew older. Turning 21, my mind was filled with doubts and uncertainty; at the same time, my grandparents were undergoing the harsh loss of independence that old age brings, selling their Indian apartment to live with their children in the United States. Throughout the film, we share these similar struggles, making each other laugh, and I, for the first time, am able to see my grandparents as adults with a captivating past. Their personalities shine through each conversation I have with them, and their everyday wisdom is profoundly simple. What began as a short project examining their symbiotic nature turned into a testimony to the power of family in soothing anxieties about the future.