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Amma' Pride
TYPE: Documentary Short
GENRE: Documentary
STATUS: In Distribution
LOGLINE
Valli supports her trans daughter, Srija, as she fights for state recognition and social acceptance of her marriage in their small town in South India.
SYNOPSIS
AMMA's PRIDE chronicles Valli's trials and tribulations in watching her trans daughter Srija, fall in love, marry, and fight for state recognition of her marriage in a traditional small town in South India. When societal pressures push Srija’s marriage to the edge, Valli clings to the hope of a miracle.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT
Director Shiva Krish, influenced by his upbringing in Indian mainstream cinema, employs a familiar genre to craft a poignant family drama in "AMMA’S PRIDE," aiming to convey the universal message that "Love is Love." The film would be among the first to invite the audience into the home of a transwoman, who's accepted in her family unconditionally, offering a rare glimpse into her daily life. In a world where positive portrayals of transgender individuals are scarce, "AMMA’S PRIDE" provides a unique perspective that challenges societal norms and prejudices. The film gains added urgency and relevance following the Supreme Court of India's disheartening verdict against same-sex marriages on Oct 17, 2023. Beyond its immediate context, this documentary seeks to contribute to the broader dialogue surrounding societal inclusion, compassion, and the acceptance of transgender individuals, resonating not only in India but also within the diaspora and immigrant communities in the Western world.
KEY CREW
Chithra Jeyaram - Producer
CHITHRA (She/Her) is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas in Austin. Her work dismantles stereotypes by centering narratives that illuminate the perspectives, struggles, and complexities of families, both biological and chosen. Her film FOREIGN PUZZLE [feature doc, director, producer 2019] tackles motherhood through cancer, and AMMA'S PRIDE [short doc, producer 2024] champions supportive parents for trans individuals. Her upcoming film, OUR DAUGHTERS [feature doc, director], displays an expansive definition of family and examines issues in open adoption - class, saviorism, race, and culture through an immigrant's eyes and a valuable addition to the cadre of transracial adoption-related documentaries. Chithra is an alumna of Visions Du Reel RoughCut Lab, Chicken and (Egg)Celerator Lab, BGDM Artist Fellowship, Gotham Documentary Fellowship, and Jerome Foundation. Her work has been featured on 2M, PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, Revry, Kanopy, SXSW, BlackStar, Krakow, and DOC NYC. Food is her first love, and she is an avid runner who has completed 15 marathons. She calls Chennai and New York City home
Shiva Krish - Director/Producer
Shiva Krish (He/Him) began his career as an assistant director on the Tamil feature film "Oru Naal Iravil." Volunteering during the Chennai floods of 2015 connected him with several local nonprofits, which in turn sparked his interest in documentaries. After that, he made short documentaries on demonetization in India and schizophrenia in collaboration with nonprofits. He was the first assistant director in the acclaimed Amazon Prime documentary series 'Harmony with A.R. Rahman.' 'Amma's Pride' is his first independent documentary short, and he hopes to direct narrative films soon.
D'Lo - Producer
D’Lo (He/They) is an LA Based queer/trans actor/writer/comic whose work range includes stand-up, solo theater, plays, films and poetry. His solo shows Ramble-Ations, D’FunQT and To T, or not To T have been presented at theaters & festivals internationally, and his stand-up show D’FaQTo Life tours the college/university circuit. His work has been featured in LA Times, The Guardian, NBC, and The Advocate. He was invited as a commentator on CNN, was on NPR’s CodeSwitch and was a staple on trans representation in both Buzzfeed and Fusion content. He is the subject of an award-winning documentary PERFORMING GIRL which has been used as a conversational tool on college campuses. He facilitates ‘writing for performance’ & 'healing trauma through comedy' workshops, and created the “Coming Out, Coming Home” writing workshop series for South Asian and/or Immigrant LGBTQ Organizations across the nation. As an actor, he has television roles in: LOOKING, TRANSPARENT, SENSE 8, Mr. ROBOT and CONNECTING, QUANTUM LEAP and Billy Eichner’s BROS. D’Lo is a Senior Civic Media Fellow through USC's Annenberg Innovation Lab funded by the MacArthur Foundation and received the Sherwood Award from Center Theater Group, an Artist Disruptor Fellowship for TV Writing through the Center for Cultural Performance and 5050x2020. He has worked with Sameer Gardezi’s Break the Room Initiative at Paul Feig’s Powderkeg Media, also working with BTR via Pop Culture Collab on his project NIMZO. His last play had a run at the Kirk Douglas Theater in 2022.
Ahaana Malhotra - Impact Producer
Ahaanaa (She/Her) is interested in using film to tell stories and explore alternate narratives. She believes video is a powerful tool for dialogue. It has the potential to give a voice to things that are invisible, and provoke essential conversations. She is very passionate about social justice and she allows her adrenalized enthusiasm for change seep into her impact work. As a result, she is highly motivated, diligent, a fast learner, and detail-oriented.
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