Experiencing Interruptions?

The Little Joys

Lost in silence, khud se door.

Struggling to speak her mother tongue, a young Pakistani woman spirals into a surreal identity crisis when language becomes the barrier between her and everything she longs to belong to.

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"Choti Choti Khushiyan" ("The Little Joys") is an intimate portrait of Inaya, a young Pakistani woman caught between cultures and silenced by self-doubt. When her Urdu tutor reveals she may not qualify for a long-awaited exchange program, Inaya spirals into an identity crisis. Struggling to speak her mother tongue and feeling “not Pakistani enough,” she navigates a surreal emotional landscape shaped by pressure, alienation, and the longing to belong. This poetic short explores the quiet ache of disconnection, and the courage it takes to find your voice.

  • Neha Lalani
    Director
    Swan Song (2021)
  • Neha Lalani
    Writer
  • Neha Lalani
    Producer
  • Kamia Gutierrez
    Producer
  • Nitasha Syed
    Key Cast
    "Inaya"
  • Sana Fatima
    Key Cast
    "Miss Amina"
  • Parth Agarwala
    Key Cast
    "Imran"
  • Sonia Gambhir
    Key Cast
    "Samreen"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Choti Choti Khushiyan
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Experimental Narrative
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 19, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Urdu
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - San Francisco State University (SFSU)
Director Biography - Neha Lalani

Neha Lalani is a Pakistani filmmaker and MFA candidate based in San Francisco. Her passion for storytelling began at age 11 after watching Spielberg’s 'The Adventures of Tintin' (2011), sparking a lifelong fascination with cinema and motion capture. Since then, she has developed a distinct poetic and emotionally immersive style, often blending surrealism with grounded character narratives.

In addition to filmmaking, Neha composes music, plays guitar and piano. 'Choti Choti Khushiyan' ('The Little Joys') is her latest short film, following the heartfelt tone of her earlier piece, 'Swan Song' (2021).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

'Choti Choti Khushiyan' is a deeply personal exploration of cultural identity, language, and belonging. As someone who has grappled with the complexities of being caught between two cultures, I wanted to create a film that didn’t just tell Inaya’s story but made the audience feel it, viscerally, through sound.

The film uses layered, muffled, and distorted audio to place viewers directly inside Inaya’s head; confused, overwhelmed, and emotionally distant from a language she longs to connect with. Every sound choice was intentional, forming a crescendo of chaos that reflects the inner world of someone who feels "not enough" for the place they call home.

With this piece, I hope to shine light on the silent struggles many second-gen immigrants face — the grief of language loss, the ache of cultural disconnect, and the invisible pressure to prove your authenticity. This isn’t just a film about language. It’s about identity, memory, and all the little joys we chase while trying to feel whole.