“Today’s cinema is a great tool to bring attention to social issues, spread the awareness, and inspire people to make small changes in their lives.”

– Sanjali Suri

Know more about award-winning film maker Sanjali Suri and her thoughts in this exclusive interview.

SM: Can you share with us the inspiration behind your recent film, “The Last Wish”?

SS: The inspiration behind making the film “The Last Wish” is the current scenario wherein some children send their parents to old age homes or discard them when they need care and love the most.

I have seen many people around me who are doing this, which of course is not at all acceptable. We must understand, respect, love, and care for our parents who gave their whole lives to make us happy and healthy.

SM: What themes or messages do you hope viewers take away from “The Last Wish”?

SS: I believe after watching the film, if only 1% of the audience takes this on a positive note if they have something negative going on in their mind that would be really great. I would be glad if the message sent to the society in an acceptable manner I really wish and hope that sooner or later the change will be there.

SM: How do you approach the creative process when developing a new film project?

SS: It actually involves developing new ideas and addressing challenges in making a new film project. Initially it is not always easy and needs great brainstorming to achieve great results. I would like to bridge the gap between my initial ideas and their final cinematic realization.

SM: As a filmmaker, what do you believe is the role of cinema in addressing social issues?

SS: Cinema plays an important role today as it always has. Today, cinema focuses more on the realistic issues rather than any hypothetical situation. People are crazy to watch movies, web series, or documentaries on theatre or on any other platform, so they not only focus on the entertainment. Today’s cinema is a great tool to bring attention to social issues, spread the awareness, and inspire people to make small changes in their lives.

SM: Can you tell us about your experience collaborating with MS Groupe and founding Sanjali Films?

SS: I have no words to describe my feelings about my collaboration of Sanjali films with MS Asian Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (MS Groupe). I am lucky and glad to be a part of this company. My company ‘s partner Mr Mayyank Sharrma is a very nice and down to earth person and always believes in motivating and appreciating his team members and creating a place to be loved. He believes in team work so do I. So, the experience is simply amazing, and I am looking forward to having more understanding and collaboration between us to deliver exceptional work.

SM: What challenges have you faced as a director, and how have you overcome them?

SS: As a director, yes, I faced many challenges in the beginning. A film is made through team effort and not only by a director. If the team is not supportive, a director can’t do anything alone. So, managing everything such as dealing with artists, technicians, script narrators, and understanding of the characters are not easy as it is seen on the screen after the film is made. I believe in teamwork – so, it is with this thought process that I was able to overcome the challenges, and I am now looking forward to making beautiful and meaningful films in the future as well.

SM: Your film has received recognition at the Chandigarh Music and Film Festival. How does it feel to have your work acknowledged on such platforms?

SS: Recognition of any work on any platform always gives “wow!” feeling and encouragement. Yes, we mean I and Mayyank are truly thrilled and glad about receiving the accolades. Recognition motivates you and inspires you to work and work more heartedly.

SM: Could you provide insight into your vision for the future of filmmaking, especially in terms of diversity and representation?

SS: A strong and positive representation can break down and fight stereotypes that can be unfavorable to people and limiting to the society. Diverse representation opens up new and better opportunities. Diversity in films refers to the representation of different races, genders, sexual orientation, and other abilities in the industry. So, by diversity, I mean and ensure that all individuals involved in the film making process from writers to director to actors have an equal opportunity to contribute their ideas and voice.

SM: You’ve mentioned your upcoming projects. Could you give us a glimpse into what audiences can expect from your future work?

SS: If I talk about my upcoming projects, we are not constrained to just comedy or love, rather we want to cover the entire nation to get involved with us by watching a diverse range of new concepts. Again, the main agenda is to bring some good message to society across all age groups, which in turn helps them understand the consequences as well as the benefits.

SM: Lastly, how do you see your films contributing to the cultural landscape, both locally and globally?

SS: If I see my films how contributing to the cultural landscape locally and globally, the emphasis will be on social awareness as well as the basics ethics which are actually essential locally and globally. The basic culture of the place and the moral stories would definitely connect with the audience if these were shown to them on screen. For example, how we eat food on the table is a basic thing, but if we can show this via cinema it would be more effective. So, yes, cultural aspects can be very effective if shown in a right manner. 🔆

“Diverse representation opens up new and better opportunities.“

– Sanjali Suri

Catch up with Sanjali Suri through the following links:

• IMDb
• LinkedIn

Your voice matters, and we’d love to hear from you.

1. How do you believe cinema can be used as a tool to address social issues and inspire change in society?
2. What aspects of Sanjali Suri’s approach to filmmaking resonate with you the most?
3. In what ways do you think the film industry can further promote diversity and representation?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s continue the discussion!

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