The Ripening

Crafting “The Ripening” has been a journey into the intricacies of the human psyche. Growing up, I found myself grappling with questions of identity and belonging. Why was I differentiated from the boys in my community? What was it that separated me from the white girls I grew up around, and why did I feel the way I did about other Desi girls? I now know I was simply navigating the complexities of my intersectional existence. This film draws inspiration from personal experiences and reflections, seeking to unravel these complexities. The absence of multifaceted portrayals of Indian-American women on screen only furthered my confusion. Growing up, I somehow knew more about what it was like to be a white man in society than anything else. At the heart of this film is a desire to fill the void of authentic representation on screen.
“The Ripening” dives into the routes we take to feel closer to our homeland and the way a young Indian-American woman navigates her sexuality. Will her choices lead her to bloom or rot? The color palette of the film aims to emulate a dying flower, beginning with blues and pinks before transitioning to brown and gold. Her connection to the homeland is woven into the story with the presence of Hindu mythology, nature, and Goddess Kali. Her struggles in her interpersonal relationships and the growing power of the Goddess are materialized in Rani’s dreams, where she is trapped in a suffocating root prison. Audiences can expect practical effects through constructed art props of sinister, slithering roots. By shooting on location in a forest, we can create the most ominous and realistic set.
The film showcases the richness of our culture, incorporating traditional Indian clothing and dance in an attempt to honor Bollywood cinema. Cinematography and scoring pull from many inspirations, notably Bong Joon Ho, Jordan Peele, and Wong-Kar Wei films, as well as iconic Bollywood films like Om Shanti Om. I wanted to portray American and Indian influences in every aspect of the story while conveying portrayals of women free from stereotypes and tokenism. With a crew composed of a majority of BIPOC and femme-presenting people, we’ve embarked on a mission to amplify marginalized creative voices in our community. As a storyteller, I could never find a portrayal of myself that I could fully resonate with. Directors like Bong Joon Ho and Jordan Peele have shown me the possibility of weaving identity into art. “The Ripening” is my most intimate project. It is grounded in the Indian diaspora and moves to resonate with the broader Indian-American community, which has evolved over time, along with my relationship to it.
Through the lens of a young Indian-American woman, “The Ripening” unpacks themes of cultural identity, familial relationships, and societal expectations. It invites audiences to delve into the inner workings of identity formation, shedding light on these nuanced layers of belonging, and explores the dynamics that shape our interactions with the world around us. Through vivid imagery, the film expands the rich tapestry of diverse voices that shape our collective understanding of the human experience.