Nehal Vyas

India, my nation, is being rebuilt. Her foundation is being laid on the imagined land that claims to be the birthplace of my grandmother's God. In the mythology that she passed down to me during many summer nights, her God was magical, kind, imaginative and democratic, just like my India was supposed to be. But today, through its many retellings and reimaginings, the tale is being used as a political tool to manifest the violent desire of a Hindutva state. This film attempts to remember, as well as dream, a forgotten nation.

Six immigrant friends constellate in Los Angeles while reflecting on intuition, perception, and the mythologies of a city. Blending documentary footage, voiced recollections, and diaristic entries, the film gathers fragments of lived experience and speculation into a collective imaginary of Los Angeles.

In July, 2020, three year old Ayaad became the sole witness of an incident which resulted in the shooting of his grandfather by the Jammu and Kashmir security officials. In Ayaad, I find the echo of Agha Shahid Ali’s Rizwan, who speaks the truth of Kashmir. The film questions the harsh realities that are hidden in the alluring landscapes of Kashmir.