Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Divija Mohan Natarajan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Divija, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I had a regular job, but it didn’t keep me happy. I have written for most of my career and tried my hand at many things before I found screenwriting. Any creative knows that with this career, you have your peaks and valleys. I am not always happy at my job, whether it’s a creative or a regular one. However, with a regular job, my moods could rarely be meaningfully expressed at a desk or a conference; it would have to wait till I got home. Being a writer allows me to channel my emotions into the writing, whether it is happiness, sadness, or anger. I get to embrace all the complexities of being human as a screenwriter and create films and TV shows that help me connect with people profoundly and uniquely. I do not take that lightly, and it’s really a stroke of luck that I get to keep writing scripts. When I look back at my work, I rarely take stock of the good or bad days it took to get me there.

On principle, I do not define myself by my work. I am happy being a writer; it has been an active choice and pleasure to continue pursuing this for a living. Not every day is easy, but I enjoy this line of work because it allows me to do what I can do best: entertain people. Would I have been happier without it? Possibly. However, I don’t think my life would be the same if I weren’t a writer.

Divija, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am primarily a storyteller, although I wear many hats—comedian, writer, and actor. I had an exciting career spanning many continents and roles, from journalism to education consulting and even a brief stand-up comedy stint. I’ve worked with organizations such as GQ, Twitter, and Screen International, and Women in Film and Television in India which allowed me to explore the film scene in the US, UK and India. I have always been a fan of international cinema, and I am so glad we are in a position today where we have access to so many films via the internet.

I pursued an MFA in Screenwriting at UCLA, and I am also a member of the BAFTA Newcomer’s Program, where I get to be part of a community that nurtures emerging global talent in Hollywood and the international film industry. In 2022, I was a judge for the BAFTA Yugo Competition, where 82 films were selected from a record-breaking 715 submissions from 134 schools across 36 countries. Currently, I am between the US and India, producing and writing short films that I aim to send to festivals.

One of my proudest achievements is receiving an Honorable Jury Mention at the 10th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival for my script for the short film “Scattered,” a poignant exploration of mental health and LGBTQ+ issues in the South Asian community. This festival, a beacon for progressive cinema since 2012, has been a wonderful platform for my debut film and I know there will be more to come. The film is currently available on Cpics, a new subscription streaming outlet specializing in South Asian films and TV shows.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of writing films and watching them get made has always been the acknowledgement from the audience, but I have also loved the space I have created for fellow artists through my work. In my first short film, “Scattered”, I was so grateful to my producer for the cast and crew she assembled; they were so lovely and talented. I recently had a conversation with our main lead, and she spoke about the dearth of roles for South Asian women in Hollywood and how much the role meant to her, especially as it was tackling a taboo subject in our community: mental health and being a member of the LGBTQ+. At the time, I was grieving the loss of my grandmother, and I wrote the piece from a very raw and vulnerable space, never imagining that it would ever be made. My amazing and tenacious producer, Allison Von Hausen, encouraged me to finish the script and fought hard to get it made. I was forever grateful for the experience we had making that film. While the audience’s love is always appreciated, I am even more delighted to provide a space where actors and crew feel heard and get to tell our stories. I want to continue to write stories that spotlight important issues for South Asians and continue to build a body of work that represents our triumphs and struggles.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The most important lesson I had to learn in my journey as a writer was to get out of my own way. I particularly recall an incident in 2021 where I met a talent manager who had asked to see some of my writing. This was when I was fresh out of my grad program, completely burned out and low in confidence. I could not believe he wanted to see my work. I felt so self-conscious about my writing, thinking, “I can’t possibly send him that!” In all the debilitating decision-making, I froze and never wound up sending him anything. I was so harsh on myself that I prevented myself from exploring what could have been an excellent opportunity for my career, and it weighed on me for months after. For a while, I was discouraged to try again.

It has taken me a long time to process how low I felt then, and I realize I am often my harshest critic and that perfectionism never got me very far. While external barriers can hinder our success as writers of color, fighting our inner imposter and pushing beyond our preconceived notions of ourselves is much more important. I put a limit on my success and punished myself unnecessarily because I did not believe I was good enough or ready. It has taken a lot of practice to not immediately be overly critical when positive things happen in my life. I think writers, in general, are an insecure bunch. We need people to reassure us, and what worked for me in the end was to keep writing. I told myself I could be terrible, mediocre even, and it was fine. I allowed myself to fail numerous times to build the security I feel now, and if a similar opportunity came again, this time, I would not let it slip me by.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobinotkobe/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/divija
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divija-mohan/
• Other: https://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/divija-natarajan https://writers.coverfly.com/profile/writer-53459ff9a-134914