Private Project

We Are Alive

A small fortune, a trans-queer punk band, a fleeting safe house of friends and lovers, and a freedom they had only ever dreamed of. But the voices of their murdered friends echo across the house.

How does the band create music affirming love, life, joy, and anger? Can they put up a show in the memory of their fallen comrades, before time and money force them back into a disapproving world?

  • Sarthak Jaiswal
    Director
  • Sarthak Jaiswal
    Writer
  • Sreekara Adwaith
    Producer
  • Ishita Pradeep
    Producer
  • Sreekara Adwaith
    Assistant Director
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Zinda Hai
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Feature
  • Genres:
    Musical Documentary, Drama, Experimental Punk Documentary, Slice of Life, Immersive and Intimate
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 41 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 INR
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (Shot on smartphones)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sarthak Jaiswal

I am Sarthak, a non-binary filmmaker and storyteller from Jamshedpur.

In a world full of formulaic 'content' creation, I seek experiential storytelling that is influenced by and derived from our zeitgeist. Centering people and their politics, I aspire to re-discover fluidity in storytelling.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My film Zinda Hai is fragmented yet coherent, disturbing yet soothing, and chronicles two fleeting months of a trans-queer pipe-dream. It follows the journey of a trans-queer Punk band - Inshallah Babes. The film is deeply intimate; the filmmakers are not flies on the wall but queer comrades, allowing the band to unveil themselves in front of the camera.

The film, like the music of the band, comes from a place of invention, an urge to express queerness not just in its misery but also in its joy and freedoms. My film aims to increase awareness about the vibrant and proud trans-queer lives in India; pushing for a deeper understanding of the violences they face, the loving communities they create, and the freedoms they dream of.

We hope this story of loss, hope, and love, reaches not just queer people but also people from all walks of life, who are able to resonate with our shared humanity, and dreams of a better collective future.