Bittu
Directed by Karishma Dev Dube
Type of Project: Drama
Length: 16:30
Producer: Mary Evangelista
Editors: Colin Elliott, Karishma Dube
Cinematographer: Shreya Dube
Sound Design: Arjun Sheth
Set in a forgotten Himalayan community, this film follows eight year-old BITTU. Unlike most girls in her village, Bittu is a streetwise charmer with a brilliantly foul tongue.
Chand is Bittu’s best friend and young protégé; Polar opposites but always a team - they play, steal, fight and hustle together - reciting dirty jokes for quick money in crowded bus stops. The natural performer Bittu excels at all things street level.
But at school things are different.
Chand outperforms Bittu in every way - a keen student in a pristine uniform, she is naturally everybody’s favourite at school. Meanwhile, Bittu resents the rote and attends school for her free lunch.
On this day, events escalate quickly between the two friends, bringing them to an end they never imagined.
Graduate
kd1511@nyu.edu
Karishma Dev Dube is award-winning filmmaker based in New York. She was introduced to film while working as a production assistant on several documentaries and independent features in Mumbai, including TED fellow Shalini Kantayya’s documentary Catching the Sun.
A recipient of the Dean’s fellowship for full-time attendance, Karishma recently graduated from NYU’s Film Program. Her award winning short film Devi (Goddess), has played in 52 festivals worldwide including BFI, Edinburgh FF, and Outfest LA, where it won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short.
As a filmmaker, Karishma intends to challenge assumptions about and within her country.