PIONEERS | SEEMA
The Roar of a Winner
Radha directs actor Mahesh Dattani, who is an award-winning playwright and director in his own right.
RADHA BHARADWAJ DISCUSSES “SPACE MOMS,” HER CINEMATIC TRIBUTE TO THE WOMEN BEHIND THE INDIAN SPACE PROGRAM
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ike her film “Space MOMs,” Radha Bharadwaj’s story is, as she puts it, “not the cry of a victim; it's the roar of a winner.” Bharadwaj, with her husband by her side as lead producer, dug deep into her Indian heritage to unearth a gem with unique sparkle. Instead of exploiting the stereotypical oppressed victim woman trope, Bharadwaj chooses to embrace what she dubs “indigenous pride.” Her philosophy makes the experience a launchpad from which Indians — and all indigenous cul-
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ADAM CARPENTER tures — can propel themselves into the stratosphere, and beyond. STANDING ON SHOULDERS, BOOSTING OTHERS UP Bharadwaj credits “hard knocks” to be her mentors. However, she also nods to Hollywood giants Ron Howard, Oliver Stone, and Brian Grazer. Stone read the script and recommended it to Imagine Entertainment, while founders Howard and Grazer let the young rookie fresh out of India make the film. In some ways, Bharadwaj had no choice but to pay their kindness-
es forward. Her vision for “Space MOMs” was specific: Redesign the indigenous success narrative. Further, she had to do it in the context of a challenging genre: science-fact. To help everyone on the vast team deliver on the film’s promise, she dug in, molding, coaching, guiding young and old through everything from acting to production and post-production. CHANGING THE NARRATIVE The Western-dominated film industry has nestled itself into an all-too-comfortable couch of
