The World Premiere of Celebrity Stylist Sapna Moti Bhavnani’s directorial debut feature Sindhustan at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) screened to a packed house of audience bringing together Sindhis from India and Pakistan under one roof.
Among the audience there were many Sindhis from Pakistan who came to watch the film including two gentlemen who gifted Ajrak scarf to her.
Touched by their gesture and the audience response Sapna says, “I am overwhelmed by the full house and the response from Sindhis from both sides of the border. I am confident that it won’t be long till I get to go to Sindh and walk the land with my inked legs.” She adds, “I also understood how urgent it was to make my film and how full of life and love my people are from both sides of the border!”
Talking about why she decided to have the World Premiere her film at NYIFF Sapna says, “I am really glad that the film made its premiere at NYIFF 2019. It is a great platform to tell our story to the world and introduce them to history of the Sindhi community who were part of the largest migration to be ever witnessed.”
She adds, “I cannot thank NYIFF enough for allowing my film to premiere in a land where I grew up.”
Soon after the World Premiere at NYIFF taking place from 7th to 12th May 2019, Sapna is headed to Atlanta Indian Film Festival where her film is in Official Selection.
Sindhustan is a fascinating exploration of the Sindhi community’s migration to India narrated through a series of extensively designed body tattoos, all of which are illustrated on Sapna Moti Bhavnani body. Through the documentary, Bhavnani attempts to also dwell into her roots and the history of the Sindhi community, which migrated in large numbers to India from Sindh during the India-Pakistan partition. The title Sindhustan also refers to the River Sindh, which is Asia’s largest river flowing through India and forms an important part of India’s history.
Talking about Sindhustan and its selection at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2019, an elated Sapna Bhavnani said, “Sindhustan comes from a very personal space. I wanted to chronicle the history and heritage of the Sindhi community so that their legacy can be passed on to newer generations. And thus, Sindhustan was born.
About The Director
Sapna has naturally assumed poster-child status as a powerful female figure. She traverse’s mainstream success with just as much ease as she skirts the underground youth art & culture movement. Ageless, fearless and forever metamorphosing in her endeavors, Sapna has recently begun giving her celebrity-hood the voice of an activist.
Just recently Sapna was awarded the “IBelieve” award and the “FemEmpowerment” Award for her work with ex sex workers by starting a free hair academy called Path
Currently Sapna is writing a book tentatively titled “Chapter One,” The Creative Producer for award-winning film Mehsampur, and starting the festival journey with her directorial debut documentary called “Sindhustan.” Sindhustan was picked as one of the 24 films to pitch at DocEdge Kolkata where it won The Griffith Film School Award.
Actor, spoken word artist, hair stylist, writer, director, producer- Sapna embodies it all as a visionary and change-maker.
The rest, like they say, is her story.
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Ajay.K.R
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