'WHO ARE YOU, NANU?' IS RAISING FUNDS TO FILM ON THE GANGES RIVER, INDIA IN 2024 AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. JOIN US IN BRINGING THE AWARD-WINNING SCRIPT TO LIFE.

***Every donation made to this film is 100% tax deductible under the U.S. Tax Code thanks to 'From The Heart Productions' fiscal sponsorship award as a statement that this film is a "positive contribution to society." A tax receipt will be sent following donations!

WHAT IS "WHO ARE YOU, NANU?"

'Who Are You, Nanu?' is an ode to grandparents, culture, and loss. When 8 year-old oddball Aisha finds herself in India for the first time for her Nanu's, meaning grandfather in Hindi, ceremonial cremation on the Holy Ganges River, she ponders the man she never got to know and where he could have possibly gone now that he's passed. Her father tells Aisha, "we go to Chanda Mama (meaning the Moon in Hindi) when we die" a sentiment from a traditional Indian Lullaby. The next day, she finds herself face-to-face with the rambunctious ghost of her Nanu's 11 year-old self: Little Nanu. Together they form a friendship and embark on a journey to Chanda Mama to figure out what comes after death. Most importantly, Aisha gets a second chance at getting to know her grandfather.

THE SCREENPLAY FOR "WHO ARE YOU, NANU?" HAS WON OVER 10 RENOWNED, INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED AWARDS AND WE ALREADY HAVE A WORLD PREMIERE DATE AT AN OSCAR-QUALIFYING FILM FESTIVAL!

 

THIS FILM URGES CURIOSITY IN OUR LOVED ONES. IT BEGS THAT WE CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER ONCE MORE, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

INSPIRED BY MY NANU...

I'm Anjini Taneja Azhar, director and screenwriter of 'Who Are You, Nanu?' Tattooed on my arms are two halves of a sentence reading, "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" in my Nanu's (grandfather) handwriting. When I was a little girl he’d make me write this sentence, containing every letter of the alphabet, fifty times in a notebook to practice my handwriting. "Who Are You, Nanu?" is inspired by my Nanu and his incredible story. But in reality, it is an ode to grandparents everywhere, because they are so much more than the roles they play in our lives, and we often don't realize this soon enough. 

My Nanu (grandfather) was born in Quetta, Pakistan, where the historic devastating 7.7 earthquake obliterated the village, taking the lives of over 30,000 people; except for my grandfather, a 3 year-old infant. His father survived as well, but lost his memory, leaving my grandfather to grow up as an orphan in India during the Partition.

Real image of the 1935 Quetta Earthquake's destruction

My grandfather grew up as a ghost; he had nothing but that didn't stop him. He worked tirelessly, rising above the most challenging means, and found himself working for British Airways where he was ultimately appointed as the official welcoming committee for The Beatles' first ever visit to India.

Upon learning his story, I no longer only saw my Nanu as a grandfather; I saw him as a son who yearned for a father, an orphan who rose from rubble, and an expeditioner who persevered. 

My Nanu is alive and well, but as he nears his 90^th birthday, he is beginning to forget his own stories, as our grandparents do. This is the natural progression of life, but now that we know his stories, we can remind him of who he is and his greatest feats. “Who Are You, Nanu?” honors my grandfather: the man who went skydiving at 85 years-old, while us mortals remained on the ground, eyes to the sky, watching him with wonder. We hope this little film opens up discussion between the old and young, because their stories are more valuable than any currency, as our film's protagonist Aisha learns during her journey with her grandfather's ghost and her own grief. I cannot wait for my Nanu to sit in the audience of a film festival and watch this movie on the big screen. We hope our audience is filled with grandparents and grandchildren embarking on this 14-minute adventure.

It has never been a greater time in this zeitgeist that we take people for granted. The truth is, people come and go; but the stories we have during our lives that are passed down as we make our transition from the ‘living’ to an ancestor—they are forever.

WATCH OUR OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN VIDEO!

OUR TEAM

Our team is made up of world-class filmmakers and producers that have touched the industry from HBO to Forbes to Academy-Award (Oscars) shortlists. See who we have on board:

 

THE HOW: ARTISTIC APPROACH

'Who Are You, Nanu?' is best described as a visual lullaby grounded in its exploration of death. It takes colors, texture, and the youth of its characters and uses a soft paintbrush to paint a harsh picture; but at its heart, it urges human connection and curiosity in a time when this is scarcely found in the world. This is a feeling only 35mm film stock can truly capture.

The film will be shooting in Varanasi, the Holy place where souls go to transition from the Ganges River. Each frame is to look like a painting, playing with portraiture-style cinematography so our characters feel larger-than-life within the frame, really allowing the film medium to capture the texture of skin, fine lines, crevices of architecture, and billows of smoke. 

Along with the 'Chanda Mama's' lullaby, my Nanu's voice will be integrated into the soundtrack. The audience will hear his voice recollecting fleeting memories of the Quetta Earthquake.

We are shooting with a local crew in the beautiful city of Varanasi, India, to capture the rich textures of culture and spirituality.

 

TIMELINE

 

WHAT DO WE NEED TO MAKE THIS MOVIE?

GET INVOLVED! OUR CAMPAIGN PERKS

'Who Are You, Nanu?' needs YOU to help make this film happen. All donations are tax deductible! The 'Who Are You' crew wants all of our donors to feel like they are actually a part of the team, so we created perks that directly invite you to enjoy the success of the film! Please donate and share this campaign with everyone you know!

 

FOLLOW THE FILM'S JOURNEY: