“Obstacles have been my constant companions. Even before I could understand the world, life had already introduced me to challenges. When I was just two months old, my parents got separated. By the time I reached sixth grade, I lost my grandfather, leaving only my grandmother and me. She became my entire world, raising me until my mid-teens.

Life took another harsh turn in my late teens when a close family member asked me to leave their home. I found myself alone in Chennai, fending for myself in a city that felt vast and unfamiliar. It broke my heart, but I had no choice. To sustain myself, I worked in a couple of places. I was simultaneously pursuing a Chartered Accountant. The Centre where I was coached, was kind enough to help me with food and shelter as well.

It was hard balancing work and studies, but I knew I had to do it. When I cleared my CA (level 1), it felt like I had finally won a battle against life.

Books and cinema had always been my escape, my companions during lonely nights. From a young age, I dreamed of becoming a filmmaker. With the help of friends I met in Chennai, I stepped into the creative world, joining Mottai Maadi Music and freelancing on ad shoots and short films. These experiences have been my stepping stones, teaching me the craft of storytelling and visual artistry.

My friends have been my greatest support system, my chosen family in this journey. While my mother offered financial help, what I craved and continue to seek is emotional support – a reminder that I am not alone in this dream.

By then I knew that the world became my home and strangers became my family.

I had no one and nothing in my life other than my dream.

Today, I am still on this journey. I write, I learn, and I create. I believe that one day, I will direct a film that tells a story as real as my own. A story of hope, resilience, and the power of never giving up. Life may be tough, but I’ve learned that dreams are tougher and that humans need other humans’ support emotionally too, not just financially.”