Filmmaker Suresh Triveni, who is preparing for his upcoming film mother sister and is known for his acclaimed work your darling And SubedarNow supporting short films Raja. Directed by Pooja Tolani and produced by Radhika Sawhney along with Triveni, the film unfolds in the tense confines of a gynecologist’s waiting room, where a mother and daughter grapple with a life-changing decision.
Before Mother Sister, Suresh Triveni’s mother-daughter drama Raza heads to NYIFF
with Raja Earning a nomination at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), the film has further cemented its place on the global stage, aligning with Suresh Triveni’s relentless eye for meaningful storytelling. The film has enjoyed an impressive festival following with numerous international selections and wins, including recognition at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Tasveer Film Festival, IDSFFK and many other prestigious platforms. The film also won at the Yellowstone International Film Festival, further strengthening its impact on the global stage.
Strengthening his belief in strong, content-driven cinema, Suresh Triveni shares, “The first time I heard the film from Pooja, I was absolutely sure that I wanted to make it. I spoke to my producer partner Radhika, and we decided to produce it. This is the second short film I have made, and I will keep doing it as long as I can. Pooja also helps the film by being a writer. We are very proud to be associated with the film The accolades keep coming, and the nominations at the New York Indian Film Festival have made us more proud.”
Producer Radhika Sawhney echoed this sentiment, saying, “When Pooja narrated the script, I had no second thoughts. Women taking responsibility for their lives is a subject I feel very strongly about. Pooja is a very good writer, and it was great to support her in bringing her story to life. Having Geetanjali Kulkarni was the icing on the cake. All the actors, in fact, brought such inspired performances to the film. While producing the film, We had to make sure we stayed authentic. Raja. A lot of effort went into choosing the cast, locations, art and visual tone of the film. Even the sound design was chosen very thoughtfully. i am so proud Raja And happy to be a part of NYIFF.”
At its core, Raja Thrives on emotional contradiction – Raza’s wonderful aloofness versus Sabine’s deep fear and moral conflict. As anger flares and silence grows, the film dives into layered conversations around choice, control, and generational expectations.
Director Pooja Tolani provides insight into this dynamic, saying, “Mother-daughter relationships are often seen as loving and tender, but I find them extremely complex, torn between inner love and constant judgment. Many mothers express love to their daughters by telling them what is right as a way of protecting them. In that process, daughters inherit a deep sense of morality. For me, Raza and Sabine are a very real dynamic. “Shared, where love is rarely expressed, but resentment almost always is.”
