Dear Sahithya is a filmic letter from me to my friend Sahithya, who is about to transform their body and soul with a double incision mastectomy. I am there to witness and record this pivotal moment in their life, and to share their journey of finding acceptance as a trans non-binary person in a suburban middle-class world. They pour their heart out in letters to themselves, which I use as a guide to explore their inner and outer realities. The film is a collage of intimate and honest scenes that reveal how Sahithya embraces their identity and celebrates their existence. Dear Sahithya is not just a diary or a movie, it's a love letter to a friend.
Festival Selections:
Nominations:
Best Documentary Short (KASHISH Pride Film Festival) [Winner]
Riyad Wadia Emerging Filmmaker Award (KASHISH Pride Film Festival)
Riyad Wadia Emerging Filmmaker Award (KASHISH Pride Film Festival)
"Bearing witness to a person’s transformation and gracefully portraying moments of vulnerability and courage, the film documents a poignant narrative of trans reality. For its gentle assertion of bodily autonomy and a delightful celebration of community, the Jury awards the K.F.Patil Unity in Diversity Best Documentary Short to the Indian film, DEAR SAHITHYA directed by Leo Paapam." - KASHISH Pride Film Festival Jury Citation