Tanuja Chandra’s documentary to premiere at Madrid film festival today

Right from her debut, Tanuja Chandra has made films with female protagonists and now her own aunts are her subject. Her first documentary film, ‘Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha’ is to have its World Premiere at the Madrid International Film Festival, where it's nominated in the Best Foreign Language Documentary and Best Director categories..

The film will be screened on Tuesday in the beautiful city of Madrid, at the festival held from 9–17 August 2019. Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha follows the filmmaker’s aunts, aged 86 and 93.

Talking about the film and its selection at the Madrid International Film Festival 2019, Tanuja Chandra says, “This is a personal, passion project for me, which on the face of it is about two old women in the autumn of their lives, but really it could be said they're in the spring of their lives! I'm excited that it's premiering in Madrid; old age isn't limited to any one part of the world, is it? It's universal, and when two ladies in walkers, one of them toothless, have an infectious zest for life, well, this joy should be shared with the world, I think!"

She adds, “A director's vision is only as good as the team she has and I've been fortunate to have like-minded, wonderful people join me on this journey”

The producer of the film, Anupama Mandloi says, “Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha came together in the most effortless manner for me from the day I decided to back Tanuja's passion project. Meeting her aunts in their environment was all I needed to know that I had stumbled upon a gem. The beauty of this documentary lies in the warm, cheerful and utterly delightful personalities of Aunty Sudha and Aunty Radha. I'm happy that it will begin its journey from Madrid, the land of art, architecture and music and represent India amidst an international array of films.”

Three hours outside of the capital of India, is a village called Lahra. This film follows two widowed sisters, aged 86 and 93, who have retired to this village, whose days are spent with their adopted family of domestic help. With a rare acceptance of old age, they spend their time gossiping, watching TV, soaking in the sun and bonding with the help in a hearty sharing of community life. The film has a facile, easy going tone, that gazes lightly at the passing of days. And yet, from this light-heartedness, emerge lessons of courage and perseverance, of camaraderie and care-giving, of destiny and faith, and the most significant one: when we engage in conversations of death, we improve the quality of life.