2018 encapsulated

If 2017 was the year of tumult (the loss of my loving producer Abis Rizvi), 2018 was a completely mixed bag.

2018 has been largely the year of travel. My feature film 'T for Taj Mahal' traveled to Cannes, London, Berlin, DC, Bay Area, Florence and many film festivals world over. In the process, the movie garnered success picking up 4 awards - 2 for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Story. As of today, the film's IMDB rating stands at an astounding 9.3, which is elating.

Our short film 'Religion for Dummies' won 5 International Awards and Official Selections at 22 film festivals all over. Our animation education venture 'TOON CLUB' picked up a few more awards world over, notching its tally to an unprecedented 20 International awards.

On the personal front, I lost my dad and my father in law. The silver lining was their passing was peaceful and without much suffering. We managed to institute 2 awards and scholarships in my dad - Bhimsain's name, publish a beautiful coffee table book of his paintings and do several retrospectives of his classic cinematic works.

For many missed opportunities that could've fructified in 2018, events surrounding them have been more than a consolation. There is much to be grateful about where I stand today and where I am headed in 2019. Amen.