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.
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Ritik MehtaDirector
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Kriti EdwankarDirector
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Kriti EdwankarWriter
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Ritik MehtaWriter
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Kriti EdwankarProducer
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Ritik MehtaProducer
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Bhavin MehtaProducer
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Meenakshi ArundhatiKey Cast"Surajmukhi"
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Shivika SinghKey Cast"Parijatika"
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Krishna MakwanaKey Cast"Raatrani 1"
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Malvika VipinKey Cast"Raatrani 2"
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Nirmal ShinkarKey Cast"Raatrani 3"
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InayatMusic & Original Score
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Ritik MehtaMusic & Original Score
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Abhishek VenkitakrishnanMusic & Original Score
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Ritik MehtaDirector of Photography
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Kriti EdwankarProduction Design
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Sukanya MukherjeeAssistant Director
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Ritik MehtaEditor
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Kriti EdwankarEditor
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Ritik MehtaColorist
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Shubh MiyaniGaffer, Grip & Sound
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Khushi FulsungeHair & Make Up
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Kriti EdwankarStyling
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Khushi FulsungeStyling
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Meenakshi ArundhatiStyling
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Abhishek VenkitakrishnanProduction Management
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Tanay ShahOriginal Thumri SoundtrackWriter
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Shivani SinghOriginal Thumri SoundtrackVocals
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Abhishek VenkitakrishnanOriginal Thumri SoundtrackVocals, Composer
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Aman SinghOriginal Thumri SoundtrackHarmonium
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Krishang HariharanOriginal Thumri SoundtrackTabla
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Sakhie BahadureArt Team
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Shubh MiyaniArt Team
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Sukanya MukherjeeArt Team
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Abhishek VenkitakrishnanArt Team
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Khushi FulsungeArt Team
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Kriti EdwankarArt Team
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Ritik MehtaArt Team
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Abhishek VenkitakrishnanMusic Composer & Vocals
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Ritik MehtaMusic Producer, Composer & Guitarist
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Sachin NairFilm Mix & Master
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Sakhie BahadureCasting
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Kriti EdwankarCasting
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Ritik MehtaCasting
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Rekha Ben & FamilySpecial Thanks
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Project Type:Experimental, Short
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Genres:Fiction, Experimental
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Runtime:13 minutes
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Completion Date:February 21, 2025
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Production Budget:2,200 USD
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Country of Origin:India
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Country of Filming:India
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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.
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.