Lines. life. art
A documentary film that celebrates the artistry and cultural significance of Indian floor arts, featuring women practitioners in Sydney. The film talks about how art practice redefines their identity while navigating life.
This film is yet to be released to the public.
Credits:
Writer, Director: Emie Roy
Cinematography: Amal Wilson
Editing: Bhavya Prathewsh
Funded by: SydWest Multicultural Services
Year: 2026
TWIRL
The film ‘TWIRL’ tells the story of a second generation Indian- Australian Kathak dancer, Niharika Sanghi, who is earnest in her efforts to keep her art alive in Sydney.
The audience travels with her in the film, which unveils her life as a performer, choreographer, teacher and overall, a true artist in every sense of the word. As much as the film revolves around her art, it also brings to light the artistic community she nurtures.
Credits:
Writer, Director: Emie Roy
Cinematography: Amal Wilson
Editing: Bhavya Prathewsh
Funded by: Randwick City council Creative Grant and Welcome Merchant
Year: 2025
Chenda, finds home in Sydney
A documentary that shines a light on a percussion instrument crucial to connecting a group of musicians with Indian background, living in Sydney.
The film follows this extraordinary group of musicians as they prepare for a performance, unfurling the fascinating story behind their connection to the percussion instrument, Chenda. It also tells the story of a how these musicians found a sense of belonging through the collective identity they developed.
This project is proudly funded by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, with support from the NSW Government through Create NSW and Blacktown City Council.
Credits:
Writer, Director: Emie Roy
Cinematography: Paul Kochukudy
Live sound: Nito George
B Camera: Binumon Mathai
Year: 2023
Unlocked
A three part documentary series on the true-life stories of four people that survived the pandemic times by being adaptable and resilient to the lockdowns that had major impacts in their lives.
Lighting Up: “But this Christmas, we are back stronger, and hopefully safer than ever” Lauraine and Peter Overton, multiple national award winners, for Christmas light displays.
Healing together: “Being together during those weeks of lockdown really helped me out” Yelda Chembirika, entrepreneur
A time of purpose: “We wanted to help them, even if it was by being with them and holding their hands” Harinder Kaur, Harman foundation
The project was supported by Blacktown City Council and Blacktown Arts Creative Arts Fund 2021 Program.
Credits:
Writer, Director: Emie Roy
Cinematography: Paul Kochukudy
Editing: Bhavya Prathewsh
Year: 2021
Lighting Up
The story of Lauraine and Peter Overton. Christmas light displays occupy almost one-third of their year and they have won multiple national level awards for the same.
The pandemic put a halt to what has been a regular routine in their lives for 27 years.
The story is, however, one of resilience, as they bounced back in 2021 and started afresh after the break. “We are back, bigger and better”, say Lauraine and Peter delightfully; reminding us of how we all got a grip back on our lives once the chaos of the pandemic subsided.
Healing together
Yelda Chembirika’s family migrated to Australia from Afghanistan when she was in her teenage. Her father, an Army General in the country, decided to move to Australia for better opportunities for his family. Yelda shared a special bond with her father and was devastated when her father passed away during lockdown, after a short battle with cancer. However, her family staying together due to the lockdown helped her to survive grief.
This amazing story of a family healing together is a deeply personal recount, which has the power to inspire those who are struggling to survive grief.
A time of purpose
Harinder Kaur founded the charity organisation, ‘Harman foundation’ in 2013 following a personal tragedy. She thought her vision for the community was well structured, until she got exposed to the difficulties people face during the pandemic times.
This steered the organisation in a different direction, and she found herself and the volunteer community around her doing many things that they have not done previously.
Other Documentaries
Street Lines
Cinematography & Editing: Paul Kochukudy
The Happy Place
A heart-warming story of how a mom and son in suburban Sydney (Glenwood) created a happy place for the community by starting and maintaining a street library, community pantry and community garden during the pandemic times in 2020.
Cinematography: Paul Kochukudy
Editing: Geevarghese Kollannur
The Loom
The resilient story of how the weavers in Cherai, India, survived a ravaging flood to retrieve their livelihood, and along with it, gave the dying art of hand-weaving-the-handloom a new breath of life.
Cinematography: Amal Wilson
Change Enablers
Exploring some stories of change, that inspires the audience to gear up to be the change enablers themselves, by supporting women’s cricket. A promotional video supporting the ICC-T20 Women’s world cup.
Cinematography: Amal Wilson
9 Yards
Hon Jodi MacKay (previous Leader of opposition in NSW parliament) and Hon Julia Finn MP (State Member for Granville) are well known for their passion for sarees. Here is spending some time with them, travelling through this interest of theirs; and thus, exploring how 9 yards of clothing transcends borders and connects cultures.
Cinematography: Amal Wilson