Priya Ramasubban

Screenplay Writer, Director, Producer, Filmaker

Born: 30th August 1972, Madras

Written - October 2018

I've known Priya for many years, because of our association with Bangalore's lakes, and though we've talked on the phone, I'd never met her face to face.

This was going to change. Her full length feature film Chuskit was going to premiere at the Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival on 27th Oct 2018 and I had decided that I must plan my time so as to be able to attend the show. I did, and reached early enough to be able to talk to Priya and I got her to sign on the programme schedule.

The film was great! Beautiful scenery in Ladakh, fresh faces on the big screen, music that lingers, good acting, and an inclusive story line with readable English subtitles. The film does well in capturing the day to day life of people who live in the hilly villages of north India and gives us glimpses of the Buddhist traditions that they follow. 90 minutes well spent, if you are fortunate to catch a show in your city.

It would seem out of the normal for a lady from the south of India to have directed a Ladaki film. However, after reading her bio in the film festival's book, I found that she has done much in unfamiliar places.

Bio from film festival's book / presskit

Priya Ramasubban is a reputed filmmaker who has traveled the world for over fifteen years making films for National Geographic, Discovery, History Channel and other major international broadcasters. She has written and directed Lost Kings of Israel (National Geographic), Divine Delinquents (National Geographic), several episodes on the long-running series Digging for the Truth (History Channel), episodes on the series Into the Unknown (Discovery Channel), an episode on Monster Fish (National Geographic) and several others notable productions. Priya was one of the six people chosen from all over India as a part of a screenwriter’s lab organized by the National Film Development Corporation where she got the opportunity to evolve her story for Chuskit under the mentorship of award-winning Dutch writer Jolein Laarman.

Chuskit - Synopsis

Sprightly Chuskit’s dream of going to school is cut short when she is rendered a paraplegic after an accident. She’s confined to life indoors in the company of her strict grandfather, Dorje. Chuskit continues to harbor hopes of school but Dorje tries to make her understand that school can’t handle her needs. As life at home gets harder, her battle with her grandfather exacerbates. Caught in between their struggle are Chuskit's parents and her enterprising brother who want to respect the old world views that Dorje represents, but also want to keep Chuskit's spirit alive. Chuskit will have to get her grandfather to yield or she will have to accept the reality he has chosen for her.

(Source: presskit from www.chuskit.com)

Priya at the Asian Premiere of Chuskit at Mumbai, 27th October 2018