Andheri, a short film by Mumbai-born, US-based director Sushrut Jain, has been doing the rounds of international fests and fetching awards along the way
Andheri, a short film by Mumbai-born, US-based director Sushrut Jain, has been doing the rounds of international fests and fetching awards along the way A still from the movie Andheri
When Sushrut Jain left his Andheri home 15 years ago to study Economics and Mathematics at Ohio Wesleyan University,u00a0 and subsequently a Masters in Economics at Stanford, he was merely living the tried-and-tested make-your-fortune abroad dream. But the inherent wish to tell stories saw him switch tracks to study filmmaking. 
A heart-warming tale narrated by his housemaid in Mumbai once, inspired the 33 year-old's short film, Andheri, which went on to become the official selection at the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival (a premier short film festival). Andheri has won the Grand Jury Prize at the San Francisco Shorts Film Festival and Best Short Drama award at the Breckenridge Festival of Film, apart from being screened at over two dozen international film festivals.
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Why did you focus on one suburb of the multi-faceted city?
The focus of the story is Mumbai, and how easily the hopes and dreams of common people like Anita and Salma, can be shaken, even dashed. Andheri happens to be one of the most densely populated suburbs, so it made for a good setting. The literal meaning of its name (andher means "the dark") helped. Andheri deals with the darkness and fear in the human heart.
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Veteran actress Daisy Irani plays Mrs Kapoor. How was it working with her?
Daisy auditioned just like anyone else, and she was amazing. It was a terrific experience. She is a professional and a larger-than-life human being. She made the whole experience fun with her sense of humour.
Why do you think a film about a local suburb did well at international fests?
The audience connected with the characters who are real, in real-life situations. The kind of Indian cinema most of them have been exposed to is largely intangible. It also showed them the city as they have rarely, if ever, seen on film. The streets, the buses, the crowds, the homes, all of it with no attempt to pretty up.
From Economics to filmmaking all in an effort to make the world a better place. Can you describe the journey?
It's been amazing. I've had to introspect and figure who I am and what I really want to say. The success of the film has given me the courage to go out and make more realistic cinema that tells the stories of Indians without pretensions.
Buy the DVD of the film on www.andheri-themovie.com
Andheri: The Storyline
Andheri is the story of live-in housemaid Anita (Swati Sen) who has worked for Mrs Kapoor (Daisy Irani) ever since she was a child. Now, a young woman, she dreams of an independent life but fears Mumbai's chaos. One day, she decides to run way. On a crowded bus she finds herself seated next to Salma (Anangsha Biswas), a gregarious young bride. Just as Anita begins to feel hopeful thanks to Salma's sparkling optimism, the unexpected occurs.
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