To me, talking to people is the fastest way to learn, and the ‘short film portrait’ is one of the quickest ways to share that learning with others. Hearing someone’s voice, their particular way of saying something, while seeing their facial expressions and gestures, are all the gifts of motion picture. PunamArts is now welcoming a limited number of commissions where people can have the filmmaker capture their loved ones, particularly elders, in a moving portrait. The five-question format is meant to draw out a subject’s wisdom and spirit, and the end product is intended to be something engaging, sophisticated and short so people want to watch and share it.  For more information or a quote, please contact the filmmaker directly at punam@punamarts.com

Here is my latest example - it is a portrait of acclaimed Indian chef, Vikram Vij. The video is more of a journey into Vij's philosophical bearings than a traditional interview about food and wine.  With references to Mahatma Gandhi, cultural identity, sexual orientation and atheism, the portrait captures the chef's essence and life outlook in under ten minutes and in the confines of five questions.

I am also excited to announce that 2 more portraits are in the works. The first is with New York-based jewelry designer Amrita Singh. I came across her jewelry in O Magazine, at exactly the time winter hit and I started online shopping as therapy to my cabin fever. Amrita and I met at her Soho studio (yes, it is exactly what you imagine in a "Soho studio") last month during New York Fashion Week and we talked less about fashion and more about Amrita as a female force. Her jewelry is exquisite and it's no wonder that her pieces are worn by J. Lo, Anne Hathaway, and Princess Mary of Denmark. I loved being in her studio and seeing glimpses of the books and artwork where she pulls her inspiration. 

The other portrait that I am so excited about is on Juno-award winner Kiran Ahulawalia.  Her and her husband-guitarist-wisecracker, Rez Abbasi, invited me into their Upper East Side apartment in New York where they live and rehearse. We talked a lot about being Kiran and Rez as partners and co-creators, and had one hell of an entertaining time.

My very first film was really a portrait - and it happened to be of my dad. Luckily I captured him in this way because he passed away one year later.  Whenever I want to remember his spirit and generosity, or when my son asks me what his grandpa was like, we can watch his DVD portrait. It will allow my son and I to talk about him, and about life.