Private Project

Surajmukhi

Surajmukhi, a flower of the sun, aches for the night. Drawn to the moonlit world of Parijatika & raatranis, she tastes freedom and desire. But night is fleeting, and dawn is merciless. As light and dark meet, so do love and loss.

  • Ritik Mehta
    Director
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Director
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Writer
  • Ritik Mehta
    Writer
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Producer
  • Ritik Mehta
    Producer
  • Bhavin Mehta
    Producer
  • Meenakshi Arundhati
    Key Cast
    "Surajmukhi"
  • Shivika Singh
    Key Cast
    "Parijatika"
  • Krishna Makwana
    Key Cast
    "Raatrani 1"
  • Malvika Vipin
    Key Cast
    "Raatrani 2"
  • Nirmal Shinkar
    Key Cast
    "Raatrani 3"
  • Inayat
    Music & Original Score
  • Ritik Mehta
    Music & Original Score
  • Abhishek Venkitakrishnan
    Music & Original Score
  • Ritik Mehta
    Director of Photography
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Production Design
  • Sukanya Mukherjee
    Assistant Director
  • Ritik Mehta
    Editor
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Editor
  • Ritik Mehta
    Colorist
  • Shubh Miyani
    Gaffer, Grip & Sound
  • Khushi Fulsunge
    Hair & Make Up
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Styling
  • Khushi Fulsunge
    Styling
  • Meenakshi Arundhati
    Styling
  • Abhishek Venkitakrishnan
    Production Management
  • Tanay Shah
    Original Thumri Soundtrack
    Writer
  • Shivani Singh
    Original Thumri Soundtrack
    Vocals
  • Abhishek Venkitakrishnan
    Original Thumri Soundtrack
    Vocals, Composer
  • Aman Singh
    Original Thumri Soundtrack
    Harmonium
  • Krishang Hariharan
    Original Thumri Soundtrack
    Tabla
  • Sakhie Bahadure
    Art Team
  • Shubh Miyani
    Art Team
  • Sukanya Mukherjee
    Art Team
  • Abhishek Venkitakrishnan
    Art Team
  • Khushi Fulsunge
    Art Team
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Art Team
  • Ritik Mehta
    Art Team
  • Abhishek Venkitakrishnan
    Music Composer & Vocals
  • Ritik Mehta
    Music Producer, Composer & Guitarist
  • Sachin Nair
    Film Mix & Master
  • Sakhie Bahadure
    Casting
  • Kriti Edwankar
    Casting
  • Ritik Mehta
    Casting
  • Rekha Ben & Family
    Special Thanks
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Fiction, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 21, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    2,200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ritik Mehta, Kriti Edwankar

Ritik Mehta (On the left)
Ritik Mehta’s journey into filmmaking began during his childhood travels with his parents. Capturing people, cultures, and everyday moments on camera sparked his curiosity about the world and
how to bring it to life through film. What started as a hobby turned into a career, leading him to establish Pencils and Frames, a production house in Mumbai. Beyond film, Ritik is also a music composer and producer for Inayat. He enjoys blending music with visuals, using sound to add depth and emotion to his work. Whether behind the camera or in the studio, he is always looking for new ways to bring ideas to life and create something meaningful.

Kriti Edwankar (On the right)
Kriti Edwankar began her filmmaking journey four years ago, driven by her deep love for film, poetry, and music. Everything she knows, she has learned on the field, believing that experience builds experience. As both a poet and a production designer, Kriti has a unique perspective on storytelling. She understands how narratives should move and breathe, creating a rhythm that feels natural. Observing the world around her, especially nature, is what fuels her creativity. It allows her to slow down, think deeply, and truly be present in the moment, something that reflects in the way she tells stories.

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Director Statement

Ritik Mehta's Statement
Surajmukhi, to me, is about crossing into the unknown—experiencing a different world, even if just for a night. It’s about people of different backgrounds, colors, and races finding a moment of convergence, coming together in a shared experience and finding love. I feel a deep connection with the sun, not just as a source of light but as a presence that shapes us, casting shadows from different angles, giving us warmth, and eventually handing us over to the night. Through the stories of these beautiful flowers, we talk about love that crosses every pillar and on the other side, a hand willing to reach out, to take the risk, no matter the cost.

Kriti Edwankar's Statement
As humans, we always want more. We long for what we don’t have and forget to cherish what’s already ours. The film follows Surajmukhi, a sunflower, who dreams of seeing the night—a wish that brings two opposite worlds together, one of the sun and the other of the moon. But she soon learns that not every wish is meant to come true. When a new day begins, reality sets in. Sometimes, when something feels mysterious and out of reach, it’s best to admire it from afar.