Episode 4.06: Interview with Sujata Day and Ritesh Rajan
Ritesh Rajan, on the set of Definition Please
“Stop waiting to get invited for a seat at this “table” where you’re one of many and build your own table; and then invite others, who are like-minded individuals, and grow that table alongside them.”
What happens when you combine a stellar directorial debut and an honest, vulnerable portrayal of South Asian mental health within cinema? You get the incredible new comedy-drama film, Definition Please — directed by and starring the remarkable Sujata Day and equally phenomenal Ritesh Rajan. In this episode, we chat with Sujata and Ritesh about the importance and impact of South Asian representation within mainstream media to highlight mental health stigma. Sujata and Ritesh speak about their relationship with South Asian identity and how it has shaped their respective paths as storytellers who consistently strive to “create their own table.” We get to learn more about their stories as South Asian artists, and their coming up as professional actors in Hollywood. Equal parts inspiring and insightful, Sujata and Ritesh divulge what can only be interpreted as a responsible, modern take on South Asian representation in creative spaces. Personally, we think their stance is a beautiful, raw example of what we’ve always coined as “The Desi Condition.” Learn more about the motivation behind Definition Please and their plans to continue breaking barriers for South Asian creators.