Today we’d like to introduce you to Valmik Puri.

Hi Valmik, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

As far back as I can remember I always loved movies. My parents brought me up on an extravagant diet of cinema. They started showing my and my brother movies before we could comprehend them. So my mother would pause whatever we were watching every few minutes and explain what was going on. Cliched as it is, the stories these sounds and images told enchanted me.

However, I was pretty directionless in school, I didn’t get very good grades growing up and sucked at math and science and all the other stuff that served as the metric for intelligence in school.

When I was 14, this new kid joined. He was into filmmaking. We quickly became very good friends, and he was the one who pushed me to try my hand at making a movie. I was reluctant at first, but he managed to inspire me. For this, I owe him a lot.

The first film I made was a 10 minute documentary about manual scavenging in New Delhi – an inhumane practice which involves workers cleaning septic tanks full of shit with no protective gear. Thousands of workers have died because of the harmful toxins, and they’d sometimes literally drown in other people’s shit. Telling that story, even at the incredibly small scale that I did, created a profound realization in me. That making movies was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And after that there was no looking back.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

It feels like I’m just about to start navigating the road, and up to now I’ve been learning how to drive. I am finishing up my last semester at The School of Visual Arts, with the aim of being fully equipped for whatever challenges lie ahead.

That being said, there have of course been ups and downs. I try and receive them both with a level head.

It’s always a struggle to make a movie, that’s part of the reason why it is so rewarding. From vomiting words onto a blank page to meticulous fine tuning to recruiting the cast and crew, managing the logistical issues, shooting under the immense pressure of a ticking clock, and limited money.

But making a movie is a luxury, and so are the struggles that come with it. I feel grateful and privileged to be venturing into this path.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am a filmmaker. I specialize in directing and cinematography. I have directed and shot award winning short films and music videos.

I am currently working on my biggest project so far: A 30 minute film called LALSA. It is the first narrative project that I have shot in India, in my home city, New Delhi. Its about a young boy’s fractured masculinity and the collision of lives, desires, dreams, and socio-economic power structures that he causes.

The film is a character study of Rohan: a 15 year old cauldron of emotions. He is lonely, has withering self-esteem. He has a lack of sexual connection and is a cocktail of hormones and testosterone with nowhere for all that to go. An act of kindness from Rupa, a 20 year old aspiring dancer and house help, sets the story in motion, but leads her into a whirlpool of complications, and brings her dreams to the brink of collapse.

The film is shot part in Hindi, and part in English. The two languages serve as a lens through which class barriers is explored. The film is a tragedy that investigates the discrepancy in consequences that exist between classes. It aims to convey the subjective emotions of the characters, but not preach a moral learning. Therefore, probing the audience to reflect on privilege and desire.

Bodhisattva Sharma, acclaimed actor of Pataal Lok (Amazon Prime), and All India Rank (Netflix) is starring as Rohan. Alongside the talented Mansi Sehgal, playing Rupa. Gifted actors: Hardeep Gupta, Shashank Bhatia, Kabir Puri and Mukesh Bhatt make up a dynamic, energetic supporting cast.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

I am young, and my wisdom is youthful, still in the process of being chizzled.

But my advice would be that you don’t have to do everything alone. Don’t be afraid to bounce off your friends, family and professional collaborators.

I’d also say that you can’t control other people’s behavior, only your own reaction to different stimuluses. So to try and stay level headed in the face of adversities.

Pricing:

• For pricing information, please contact me directly via email or instagram.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valmik.puri/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3NYYKQ4BCA&ab_channel=ValmikPuri
• Other: [email protected]