Jessica George, director of Puli and the Tiger, Photo: Supplied
Production has commenced in Wellington on Puli and the Tiger, a Tamil short film exploring how immigrant children connect with their elders and homeland through tradition and storytelling.
The film's director, Jessica George, pays homage to the close ties she had with her grandparents when she was younger.
"[The film] was inspired by my childhood growing up with my grandparents and the relationship I have with them," she says.
George, who is half-Indian and was raised in Lower Hutt, says this is her first time directing a drama in New Zealand.
"My parents got divorced when I was eight, and I lived with my dad and his parents," she recalls.
Her father is from the southern Indian city of Chennai, while her mother is Pākehā.
George says the film addresses the universal cultural divide experienced by third-culture kids across different migrant communities.
Initially aspiring to be a visual effects artist after being inspired by Marvel movies, she soon recognised challenges associated with the role and instead embraced video production.
During her undergraduate studies, George produced a climate change documentary titled VAKA (2019), which premiered at the United Nations' COP25, and The Lascar (2023), which screened at Whānau Mārama (NZIFF) 2024.
"I've been working on the project since January 2023," George says.
She collaborated with Wellington-based writer Esteban Jaramillo-Ulloa for the film's script.
"I came up with a treatment for the story, and Esteban turned my seed of an idea into a fully fleshed narrative," she says.
Both were inspired by Studio Ghibli films, particularly their treatment of magical realism.
Rajeev Mishra, producer of Puli and the Tiger Photo: Supplied
Wellington-based producer Rajeev Mishra is backing the film.
"Jessica approached me last year to be her producer and mentioned it was a Tamil-language film, which was really exciting," says Mishra, who has worked in film and TV since 2006.
He felt an immediate connection with the script and noted the challenges of finding a mentor and producer in the New Zealand film industry.
"I saw myself in Jessica from 15 years ago and felt a responsibility to help tell this story," he says.
Mishra says unconscious bias in the industry often sidelines diverse creators.
"People might not realise they're doing it, but it happens," he says.
However, Mishra acknowledges a degree of progress in diversity within the industry.
"It's much more diverse now, which is great," he says.
Both George and Mishra are committed to assembling a diverse cast and crew.
"Rajeev and I are passionate about diversity and representation for Asian creators," George says.
She believes it is important to hire Tamil-speaking actors and an Asian crew.
The cast includes Tamil-speaking actors Hayaa Sinh, Prabha Ravi, Archana Gideon and Nanthika Sabesan.
Mishra says short films are challenging due to a general lack of commercial revenue, but they serve as powerful artistic expressions.
"Short films are often about telling an important story," he says.
He believes Puli and the Tiger represents a voice rarely seen on New Zealand screens, which motivated him to produce the film.
George and Mishra aim to complete post-production by the end of the year, hoping to enter the festival circuit in 2025.
George wants the film to help other immigrants to connect with their elders.
"The film explores the relationships we have with our immigrant grandparents and how we overcome cultural barriers and the fear of ageing to connect with them," she says.
"I hope viewers think about their own grandparents, build stronger relationships and preserve their stories because that's our history and it's worth cherishing."