As part of our Window on Women Series we are excited to bring a special private screening of the Student Oscar Winning short film BITTU. Come meet the Writer Director Karishma Dev Dube and the Indian Women Rising Team to hear about the making of the film how they are bringing up Indian female voices. Come hear the stories of the two brilliant young actresses who play Bittu and Chand, stories that will tug at your heartstrings and make you rise to your feet in a standing ovation. They need that recognition, but even more than that they need an education, a way out of poverty for themselves and for the generations that will follow them. Join us to watch, listen, cheer and support this inspiring duo and the women that brought them to the screen!
Bittu & Chand - Rani & Renu
Bittu and Chand played with such aplomb by Rani Kumari and Renu Kumari are best friends, polar opposites but always a team, fighting, playing, hustling and stealing together. In real life as in the film they live in poor socio-economic conditions, Rani (Bittu) takes care of her siblings, cooks & cleans while Renu (Chand) takes care of the household as her mother goes to work. Despite the critical acclaim that Bittu has received, in reality, their situation continues to worsen. They are struggling to stay in school and eat a decent meal, things that every child deserves. Join us to ensure their education, their future.
Karishma Dev Dube, Writer & Director
Karishma Dev Dube is Indian filmmaker based in New York. A recipient of the Dean’s fellowship,
Karishma is currently a thesis MFA candidate at NYU’s Film Program. Her recent work Devi
(Goddess), an award winning short film that has been featured on BBC world and played in over 57
film festivals around the world including BFI London Film Festival, LA Film Festival, Outfest LA and
Edinburgh International Film Festival. Her most recent film Bittu, is a Student Academy Award
winner and has played at Telluride Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest and BFI London Film
Festival 2020.
Indian Women Rising
Indian Women Rising | A Cinema Collective endeavours to bring forth the unseen and unheard stories in the most democratic way – of, by and for women.
With an intention to lift a new community of imperative women writers in India, IWR believes that when one woman shines, she opens the door for many more!
BITTU is the first project sponsored by IWR.
Meet the IWR team and witness the power of Indian Women Rising!
Guneet Monga
Guneet Monga is an Indian film producer, a BAFTA nominee and amongst the first producers from India to be inducted in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is the recipient of the Global Media Makers fellowship by Film Independent and the US Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. In 2019, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded her the prestigious Sloan Science and Film grant.
Guneet Monga is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a homegrown premium content studio with a global footprint. The production house has been at the helm of pushing content-driven cinema with films like The Lunchbox, Masaan, What Will People Say, Monsoon Shootout, Haraamkhor, Peddlers and Oscar Winning Short Documentary – Period. End Of Sentence to name a few. In a short period of time, the production house has carved a presence both locally and globally. With a total of 9 films at the Cannes Film Festival and 14 films at The Toronto International Film Festival, Sikhya Entertainment is looking at creating another decade full of exciting and path-breaking cinema. The company has recently diversified into different content formats with documentaries, short films, podcasts and web series.
Tahira Kashyap Khurrana
Tahira Kashyap Khurrana is a writer and a film-maker. In her own quirky style, she wants to use her voice, her social media presence and her brand of storytelling to spread awareness about women empowerment, self-love and a wholesome lifestyle. She is a strong advocate for feminism and firmly believes that each one of us has the power to bring a positive change in the world.
Ekta Kapoor
Ekta Kapoor is a leading Indian film and television producer based in Mumbai. In her career spanning over two decades, Ekta has become the undisputed queen of television world and has a significant repertoire of work as a film producer. One of the very few female producers of Bollywood to have charted her own path and created history, she has produced over 40 films, 130 plus television shows and about 50 web series. She has backed critically acclaimed films like – Udta Punjab, The Dirty Picture, Lipstick Under my Burkha, Veere Di Wedding, DreamGirl and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare. Ekta’s interest lies in new-age, unconventional and path breaking stories. She is regarded as one of the most powerful women entrepreneurs of India and a content powerhouse and her films have carved a path for women-oriented subjects in Bollywood.
Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh
Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh is the Creative Producer and Executive Vice President at Balaji Motion Pictures. Ruchikaa has successfully dabbled across Marketing, Branding. Her passion for movies and her drive to come up with unconventional and clutter breaking content has etched Balaji Motion Pictures as one of the leading production houses on the map of entertainment.
As Marketing and Branding Head, Ruchikaa Kapoor spearheaded campaigns for films like Lipstick Under My Burkha, Udta Punjab, Ek Villain among many others. Each campaign went onto becoming a revolution in itself. As Creative Producer, she has spearheaded films like DreamGirl, Veere Di Wedding, Judgemental Hai Kya, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare among others. Telling path breaking stories, allying with new talent and giving radical ideas a commercial window has been the centerpiece of her journey so far.
