Interview with multifaceted filmmaker Manju Subberwal
Welcome Manju, we are very excited to have you today with us to discuss about your work.
Who is Manju Subberwal and how did your passion for creating begin?
Our film workshop professor used to say, "Leave your medical job. Trying to break into the film industry while still working in medicine is like trying to make someone fall in love with you when you’re already married to someone else, you won’t be successful."
I think I was born an artist. Ever since school, I have experimented with painting, sculpting, musical instruments, writing, dancing, and singing, basically anything that made me happy. One thing I've realized is that true artists are never really happy when they are away from art. I joined medical college, and while it was prestigious and gratifying to help patients, I knew deep inside that it wasn’t who I was. In India, pursuing art back then was out of the question. It took me several years to understand what I was missing. Yes, money is important, but so is happiness.
Can you tell us about your previous work ?
I painted a lot in my early years and even had some exhibitions. However, when I joined an animation course, it was a whole new level of thrill seeing my artwork move and come alive on screen. I made two animated short films based on Hindu mythology, "Skandapuran" and "Kaalratri," which won “Best Film” and “Best Animation” awards at a prestigious student festival. Standing on the stage with my film playing behind me and a hall filled with hundreds of people clapping, it felt like a weight lifted off my chest. I knew then what I was missing in my life—my art.
I love telling stories and I am resourceful, so I learnt to write, do cinematography, edit, and create VFX—anything the story demanded. I wrote, directed, produced, and edited two short films, "Yours Unfaithfully" (2019) and "Totka" (2021), both suspense dramas that were featured at several festivals and OTT platforms, especially on Prime Video US. It’s not easy, especially for a girl, to leave a well-established job and go to another country to pursue a career in film production. In 2021, I decided to leave everything and professionally pursue filmmaking, completing a Film Production Diploma from Toronto Film School in 2023. Professional guidance truly helps you grow as an artist.
What inspired you to explore the themes of time and mortality in "COLORS"?
The story of "COLORS" was conceptualized by a school girl named Deepita Singh in India. It is about a teenager girl “Alisha”, her aunt is in last stages of cancer. She can’t bear the pain of seeing her frail and so close to death. She wishes that time should stop ticking, because it’s slowly killing her aunt.
I loved the story, though it was mainly written with Alisha thinking to herself, making it seem impossible to turn into a film. But the story stayed with me for few years. When I came to Canada, I found out my father was in the last stages of Parkinson’s disease, unable to eat, he has a feeding tube in his stomach. I felt helpless, my brother is taking care of him in India, while I was in Canada, unable to do anything. I couldn’t even bear to see him on video lying frail in the hospital bed.
I read the "COLORS" story years before, but I truly understand it’s meaning now. How Alisha, by avoiding seeing her aunt, was shielding herself from the pain of facing the truth. I knew I had to make that film as an outlet to channel my pain.
CONVERSATION ABOUT: COLORS
How did you approach the concept of stopping time as a means of coping with loss? Can you discuss the symbolism behind the colorful place where Alisha and her aunt can be together forever?
Time is always ticking; it’s an inevitable journey we all are taking. Some moments are so precious that we want to freeze them in time, but time stops for no one. However, I believe memories are the device that can hold these moments and immortalize them. For me, the colorful place represents memories from which no one can take away the essence of a loved one, where death cannot reach. Memories are precious because they keep our loved ones alive.
How did you approach the direction of "COLORS" to convey its emotional depth? What were some of the key visual elements you focused on to bring the colorful place to life?
"COLORS" is a beautiful story to read, filled with feelings and imagination, but bringing it to the screen was a difficult task. In the original story, Alisha was thinking about everything, but for the film, I wrote the screenplay and I added dialogues and situations to avoid simply narrating her feelings.
The first challenge was showing her emotional pain without explicitly stating it, as teenagers often show anger instead of expressing their true feelings. The story was gloomy, so the fantasy forest had to be uplifting and magical.
I found the perfect artist for the job, Sonalika Bansiwal, who had just finished her 3D Animation Diploma from Humber College. When she came on board, she took my imagination further than I had hoped, creating a fantastical forest in Unreal Engine. She made unique trees, flowers, terrain, sky, water, and even a shifting rainbow texture that elevated the visual experience. A wonderful story, combined with a talented VFX artist and creative direction, makes for a wonderful film, and I believe "COLORS" is just that.
How did you select the actors for the roles of Alisha and her aunt? What direction did you give the actors to help them portray the emotional nuances of their characters? Can you share any memorable moments from the set during filming?
Finding the right teenager to portray Alisha, who appears angry and spoiled but is actually scared to face the reality of her aunt’s death, wasn’t easy. Madeline Paulic stood out from almost 50 auditions. She embodied controlled anger and the innocence of a troubled teen. She would be so shy on set, but the moment I would say action, Madeline would transform and become Alisha. Casting Aunt Moni was challenging, as I needed someone frail yet larger than life and willing to go bald on screen. Sarah was the only one I considered for the role, she has a fun personality and she is a really good actress.
I allowed Sarah and Madeline to play on set to build chemistry, they came up with the game of clapping and guessing words, they genuinely bonded, and it shows in the film. It feels like they really knew each other for years.
What do you hope audiences will take away, and what emotions or reactions do you aim to evoke through your storytelling?
One of my teachers at TFS had lost his son. When he heard the story pitch, he was emotional and urged that this film be made. I believe the film conveys hope despite inevitable pain. Most importantly, it shows that just because someone dies doesn’t mean their story isn’t worth holding on to.
In future projects, do you plan to explore similar genre intersections, or are there other genres you're eager to explore?
I love watching entertaining films, even if the theme is dark. Hence, I enjoy making films that are philosophical but are fast-paced. They are filled with deeper meaning and are yet entertaining. I am working on a web series called “Mystical Beings”. It’s a story about a magical powerful alien, who gets teleported to earth by mistake. On earth she forgets about everything and is trying to live an ordinary life, but in her heart, she feels like she has magic. The story is about finding her lost magic. Philosophically its about all humans who secretly feel like they are not ordinary, even if the society tells them so. The story encourages people to find their lost magic.
Can you tease any upcoming projects or themes you're excited to explore in your future works?
Another project close to my heart is based on Indian mythology—specifically, the goddess Kaali, symbolizing feminine power. It will be a mix of live-action and animation, telling a story of empowerment and encouraging women to find their voice and kill the demon of silence. The main character will find her hidden strength “Kaali” when she has no choice but to fight. Something that I have learnt from my own life.
This marks the conclusion of the interview featuring our esteemed artist, Manju Subberwal. Our community is growing steadily, with a continuous influx of skilled filmmakers and screenwriters joining us. Explore our other interviews, and consider scheduling one for yourself to showcase your creative endeavors.
To publish an interview simply submit on the ‘‘INTERVIEW OF YOUR FILM’’ category on our Filmfreeway page.
