Meet Tanmay Chowdhary | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanmay Chowdhary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanmay, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When I moved to the US in 2008, leaving my hometown for the first time in pursuit of university education, I was the first in my family to depart from our country. Even as an aspiring artist of South Asian origin, I could never picture people of my colour to be depicting characters in a film placed in this side of the world, even if it were my own film. I couldn’t imagine my identity to be represented in the country where so many of my kind continue to build a home for themselves. While Bollywood is cherished and appreciated for its influence, it is often the only medium through which brown people are exhibited— and more often than not, it is a sensationalist portrayal of the Indian experience. Till today, there remain incredibly few pieces of work in cinema that conveys the lived times of a first generation Indian immigrant.

My most recent work for the band Young the Giant revolved around the experience of the South Asian diaspora. The film followed the lead singer of the band, Sameer Gadhia, exploring the story of his father’s journey to the west. The painstaking conjuring of a new life in a foreign land— is the story of uncountable individuals who seek to find themselves in the media that they absorb, and that their children imbibe. My work is a constant strive to nourish and represent, both in what I create and how I create, with humble and utmost honesty.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a filmmaker, most of my work tends to be a reflection of what I have experienced growing up in India and subsequently moving across borders to the United States. I feel that in an increasingly globalised world, a lot of us have lost physical touch with both our homes as well as people who we were once close to. I choose to use film to preserve some of those memories of culture. I tend to delve into different genres and formats of storytelling like narratives, music videos, documentaries and often bring this artistic approach to these spaces.My hybrid docu-fiction ‘Color of November’ explores a relationship between two young women in Poland, who strive to make sense of their worlds in the wake of their separation.  ‘Madhu’, my other narrative short, also explores this search through unspoken desires that can only be expressed through letters across time. It is a film that emotionally weaves together time and space almost in an effort to transcend it, keeping the desire of the protagonists at the centre of any resolution. I operate from a very intuitive place when it comes to making films and I’ve tried to stay true to my language across all my work.

After graduating with an MFA in Film from USC, I’ve had my share of ups and downs. The gig economy is a tough one and the one thing that has got me through the hard times has been to continue to hone my craft and make films even when no one is hiring. I’ve come a long way in my own personal growth as a filmmaker and as an individual. I think a lesson that I carry with me is work-life balance and the importance of letting go. I tend to be obsessive with my work and can easily get lost in it to an extent where I forget about my own physical and mental health. It is the simple things that count in the end, like nurturing personal relationships with loved ones and taking out time for one self.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love LA food and I would definitely take them to Sichuan Impression on Santa Monica Blvd. It has the best Sichuan food I’ve personally had in LA. I’m a vegetarian and I always order the Mapo Tofu and the Sichuan Fries there. Next, would be Pine and Crane, the Taiwanese restaurant on Silver Lake. Their Dan Dan noodles are incredible. Pijja Palace is this Indian sports bar in LA which is fresh on the block and has some of the best Indian fusion cuisines that I’ve tried.

I would also make sure to take them for a picnic and film screening at the Cinespia Cemetery.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Through my journey as a filmmaker in Los Angeles, there have been several pillars who have creatively inspired and supported me. First person is Qasim Anwar, who I met back in 2017 at the Bombay Beach Biennale by the Salton Sea near Joshua Tree. Qasim is an immigrant from Pakistan. He moved to the US when he was 9 and is a rock climber, a fashion designer, and a stylist. Qasim has been a creative partner and served as a costume stylist on most of my films. He has been the perfect bouncing board for all my image making. Second person is Raeshib Aggerwhil, who is a film producer. Both of us went to USC, but at separate times, and met through Instagram for a project that he was producing. Raeshib has since been a second home to me in Los Angeles and has produced most films I have worked on. Third person is Sameer Gadhia, who is the lead vocalist of the band Young the Giant. Sameer has provided me a platform to shine as a creative and has been one of my most cherished collaborators. Then there is an entire host of South Asian creatives in Los Angeles. There is Neeraj Jain, Seema Hari, Anumeha Sinha and so many others who continue to foster a nurturing creative space.

Website: www.tanmaychowdhary.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanmay.chowdhary/

Image Credit
Raeshib Aggerwhil, Qasim Anwar, and MK Sadler.