Filmmaker Statement

One day, my thirteen-year-old sister, Shaina, came home from school and told me that she "hated her Indian nose". I was heartbroken because I had said those same words when I was in high school and it was dreadful to see that not much had changed in ten years. So rather than lecturing her, I decided to make a film that reflected the loneliness of conforming to foreign ideals. My sister plays 'Jiya' in Clown, so she could see herself shine on the big screen. I also wanted to accurately depict the Indian-Australian diaspora in a narrative about young Indian women that wasn’t clouded by something hyper-tragic. There are so many joys to being Indian and I wanted everyone to see that. This film is my subtle attempt at showing young Indian girls that it's natural to want to change, adapt and crave inclusion but it can also be really fun to be yourself in full throttle. And perhaps when you find home within yourself, you may also feel less alone.