Messy life, happy end

During the lockdown when photographer Monisha Ajgaonkar learnt about Rode Reel the worldrsquos largest short film competition she discussed it with her colleagues Raunaq Sahni and Chandrashekhar Parab Their suggestion was lsquoMonisha we should do this one on your liferdquo she laughs She knew that her life had enough material to merit a film An eminent wedding film photographer and active member of the LGBTQiA community the 33yearold has been vocal about her life choicesMonisha Ajgaonkar during a video call with her estranged father during the filmingMajha Pann Lagna Hoil I Will Also Get Married is a short documentary that captures Ajgaonkarrsquos mental health struggles coping with her motherrsquos suicide coming out as lesbian and being disowned by her father Much like every girlrsquos cliched fantasy she had pictured a beautiful wedding with her family around But identifying as a queer Indian girl came with its own challenges ldquoBeing a wedding photographer reminds me of this every day But the story isnrsquot about glorifying my struggles it is about every other girl who doesnrsquot encounter the warmth and adoration of her family for every girl who had to move out and hustle at a young agerdquo she saysThe film has received recognition at the Independent Short Films Award in Los Angeles the Berlin Flash Film Festival and Prague International Monthly Film Festival 2020Edited excerpts from the interviewYou were initially sceptical about the projectYes I would not like to be identified as a ldquobecharirdquo I needed individuals to empathise not sympathise I wanted it to be a groundbreaking short film for individuals who are experiencing something similar in their livesHow difficult was it to lay bare personal aspects for the screenIt was harder than I thought It wasnrsquot easy to revisit old memories and reopen wounds that remain unhealed To hear my dad say giving birth to me was his worst mistake still hurts I pull myself back up and remember how far I have come I hope this gives courage to those who watch itWhat about your life Do viewers identify with itI didnrsquot have it easy I bought my first camera with my own earnings I agree that my family is well off yet not the slightest bit have I received monetary help Food was my closest companion in school Being a fat kid felt lonely Earlier I despised looking at myself I had no selfconfidence and no friends I am certain a lot of individuals will empathise with thisWhat do you think makes you resilientI think when you are left with no choice but to aspire it makes you exceptionally selfsufficient Irsquove seen people I love walk away from meI am very selective about who has access to my energyI am way stronger confident and happier at this pointI also strongly believe that God hands over some of the toughest battles to his strongest warriorsWhen Majha Pann Lagna HoilWhere YouTubeFree