Private Project

Sukhi

Warm, hilarious, and heart-rending, a young filmmaker reckons with her future as she spends time with her sweet and witty grandparents. The first film made entirely in the little-known minority dialect of Thanjavur Marathi, this candid documentary reveals the spontaneous personalities of two elderly Indians, who have found themselves dependent on their adult children in an alien American environment. Filled with cheerfulness, growing pains, and moments of camaraderie and advice to their granddaughter, the film moves the viewer seamlessly from laughter to tears. This lively exploration of family bonds that soothe anxieties across generations is unforgettable, excellently crafted, and refreshingly genuine. A confident debut from Emerson College senior Samyukta Panth, Sukhi is an homage to the value of considering the past as we face a turbulent and uncertain future.

  • Samyukta Panth
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 19, 2025
  • 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.