DISHA

Sai Parānjpye

India

- 1990

‘Disha’ tells a never-ending story —a story of rural exodus and the mirage of the big city, of hopes and disillusionments, through the destinies of migrant farm workers searching for a better life in Mumbai. The film lends a palpable dimension to the harsh materiality facing those aspiring to happiness: the dry land, the deafening textile mills, the overcrowded sleeping quarters, a well obstinately dug in the hope of perhaps seeing a little water gush forth.

Sai Parānjpye

Hindi director born in 1936 in Lucknow. She was educated in Australia and when she was 8 years old she published a collection of fairy tales in Marathi. A well-known playwright and stage director, she started directing for TV in 1965, later to become in charge of CFS productions (1974-1975) and work as producer for public broadcaster Doordarshan in the early 70s. Paranjpye’s first feature film ‘The Touch’ was released in 1980 and won the National Film Award for Best Actor to Naseeruddin Shah. Her filmography includes films like ‘Chashme Buddoor’ (1981), ‘Kathā’ (1982), ‘Angoothā Chhāp’ (1988), ‘Disha’ (1990), ‘Forest Love Bird’ (1993), ‘Saaz’ (1997) and ‘Chakā Chak’ (2005). Her autobiography ‘Saya: Majha Kalapravas’ (2016), written in Marathi, was a bestseller.