Private Project

Kaju Katli

Akshay, a Marathi-American teenager struggles to prepare kaju katli for the annual Diwali party, consumed by grief. He is forced to reckon the true reason he is struggling to create this dessert, redefining his place in his culture.

  • Sujay Khona
    Director
  • Sujay Khona
    Writer
  • Natalia Melnikova
    Writer
    Dust Bunny
  • Daniel Zaitoun
    Producer
  • Aadith Iyer
    Key Cast
    "Akshay"
  • Shriya Bharadwaz
    Key Cast
    "Aditi"
  • Prajakta Vaze
    Key Cast
    "Mother"
  • Meera Narasimhan
    Key Cast
    "Aji"
  • Bodhi Bryan-Roig
    Editor
  • Nate Henry
    Cinematographer
  • Jennifer Vu
    Production Design
  • Divya Sundaram
    Production Design
  • Divya Sundaram
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 30, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Marathi
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - George Mason University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Capital Emmys Student Production Awards
    Reston, VA
    United States
    December 4, 2025
    Fiction - Short Form
  • Charlotte Asian Film Festival
    Charlotte, NC
    United States
    September 13, 2025
    Best of Asian Culture
  • DC South Asian Film Festival
    Rockville, MD
    United States
    September 6, 2025
  • Washington West Film Festival
    Reston, VA
    United States
    October 11, 2025
  • Best of Film at Mason Showcase
    Fairfax, VA
    United States
    September 12, 2025
    Best of Recognition
  • NAFA Marathi International Film Festival
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    July 27, 2025
    World Premiere
    Film School Spotlight Competition
Director Biography - Sujay Khona

Sujay Khona is a director and cinematographer from Chantilly, Virginia. As a filmmaker, Sujay works to uplift marginalized voices through his work. He is currently completing his senior year at George Mason University. He's excited to continue telling stories that expand narratives surrounding his identity and empowering others to do the same.

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Director Statement

As a second-generation immigrant, I have not always valued the ways my family connected me to India, especially because I felt that aspects of my identity created a divide between me and my cultural heritage. However, as I’ve grown up, I’ve become closer to my culture and have begun to value the way that my family connects me to my roots. These cultural traditions bridge communities and generations together, regardless of distance and time, and are vital to our diaspora.