Unveiling the Depths: "Who we were, who we became" - A Celebration of the Windrush Generation

Hey! I'm beyond excited to share with you my latest cinematic adventure, a project that's been six months in the making—a poetic film in collaboration with the incredible Danae Wellington. Together, we're taking a deep dive into the stories of the Windrush generation, shedding light on the individuals behind the headlines and hardships. Here is a journey of our film, Who We Were, Who We Became.

Before I get into it all, I just want to thank the crew for being such a huge part of this production. I could have not done it without you all!

Brewing Ideas Over Coffee: The Birth of the Project

Picture this: endless meetings at cozy cafes, cups of coffee in hand, as Danae and I hashed out ideas. From the very beginning, we wanted to go beyond the expected narratives. We craved a film that not only acknowledged the struggles but also celebrated the people—their dreams, their farewells, their journeys, and their triumphs.

Four Stanzas, One Journey

Join me as we journey through four stanzas, each unraveling a different chapter of the Windrush story:

The Night Before: It's a mixed bag of emotions—anticipation, celebration, and tearful goodbyes—all on the eve of departure.

The Journey: Let's navigate the challenges and hopes of the journey itself, feeling the heartbeat of those crossing oceans for a new beginning.

The Arrival: We won't shy away from the harsh realities of racism upon arrival, but we'll also capture the resilience and strength that defined their response.

Who we became: This final stanza is a celebration, an uplifting crescendo honoring the indomitable spirit of the Windrush generation. Who they became, the hurdles they overcame, and the richness of their cultures take center stage.

From Sadacca to Sheffield Town Hall: A Personal Invite

I'm thrilled to extend a personal invitation to each and every one of you. Join us at Sadacca on the 15th of October in Sheffield. But that's not all! On the 28th of October, we're taking this celebration to new heights—literally. Our film will be projected on the side of Sheffield Town Hall, turning it into a cinematic canvas.

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to dive into the backstory of "Who we were, who we became." Your support means the world to us, and we can't wait to share this cinematic journey with you. Mark your calendars, bring your friends, and let's make these screenings unforgettable.

See you there!

Darshan.

Shooting a Short Film for Sky Art's shortFLIX

Hello!

Last month I had the amazing opportunity to come on board as the cinematographer for ‘Left Behind’, a short film about two brothers and their response to grief within their family. Being part of SkyArts, the initiative was to provide directors who had less experience, not in full time employment or studying £10,000 budget to create a short. Having the opportunity to shoot a project with a large sum of budget was fantastic.

I was away in India during the weeks leading up to the project, despite that, Carrie (director) and I worked heavily into the project having constant chats and emails to prepare the days ahead. It was a two day shoot and a 13 scene script, this meant we had to be really fast when it came to shooting, and fast we were!

Ultimately, this experience has been a great opportunity for me and challenged me in a way that others haven’t. I was practically jumping into locations I hadn’t had opportunities to pre-visit, working with a less experience (but actually felt quite experienced) director and figuring out what kit we should order from the hire.

A short about Islamophobia and how media has pushed a perspective.

I recently got the chance to work on the BFI young filmmakers thriller competition for filmmakers aged 16-25. I was approached by a team of young filmmakers with an idea already in their heads. Zane (writer, director and actor) wanted to create this film that challenged the views that western media has put on society about Muslims. We created this powerful short that I will not spoil but really makes you feel guilty as a viewer if it makes you ‘think’ a certain way.

Interviewed by BFI!

I am honoured to have been asked by the British Film Institute (BFI) Academy to be a part of their SCENE weekly Q&A that they host. The SCENE program aims to inspire young filmmakers between the age of 16-25 to get into the film world. Having created my graduate film ‘Kilig’ (which you can watch here!), I was found by people within the BFI world and contacted recently. It’s nice to know that a film I created a year ago has lived on and reached people from established industries such as BFI. It was such a great opportunity to be involved with them. Being an inspiring cinematographer, I get so much knowledge from people above me who are happy to help out and answer any questions of younger studying filmmakers. With that, I feel that I am at a point where I can share tips to say a 16-year-old aspiring DOP so I feel it was definitely worth getting on the Q&A. You can watch the Q&A in full here!

I am hoping that doing this Q&A is a sign that people in the industry such as BFI have an eye on me and feel that I am on the right path. I am grateful and I look to seek out any further opportunities that the BFI and other film institutions offer me.