"This has never been done before. People don't know about Indonesia and there is so much beauty here that can be shown," Madhumita told The Jakarta Post during a recent interview.

Having finished a week of filming in Jakarta, Garut, Kawah Putih, Bandung and Bali, Madhumita (now based in Chennai) confessed she missed Indonesia, since she grew up here attending Gandhi Memorial International School from sixth grade through to high school.

Madhumita went on to pursue a degree in multimedia studies at the La Salle School of Arts in Singapore where she directed two short films on the symbolism of the bindi (a decorative accessory worn on the forehead by women in India) and womanhood. Both projects went on to win awards from the BBC and the Singaporean government.

Encouraged by such early recognition, Madhumita continued her specialization in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles where working on Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and meeting Johnny Depp were just a tiny part of her varied experiences.

"In Hollywood, the director is the captain of the ship. The crew is supportive of *the director's* vision but the director should know the basics of everything," said Madhumita of the mandatory acting, editing and lighting training she received while in the US.

"It's useful to understand, for example, where the actor is coming from *while filming*," she explained.

This theoretical and practical experience culminated in another short film called Yours Affectionately, which tells the story of a young, orphaned Indian girl who refuses to get along with her foster parents despite all their efforts to integrate her into their family.

Surprisingly, Madhumita's thesis project encountered strong resistance from her supervisors at the New York Film Academy who insisted that she choose a subject matter more suitable for American audiences. Nevertheless, Madhumita was rewarded for following her instincts when the finished film was screened at more than 20 film festivals including Indonesia's Pendek Konfiden and India's International Short Film Festival.

"When she is stubborn, I see a reflection of myself in my daughter," said Madhumita's father, Sundar Raman, who also used to be involved in the South Indian entertainment industry before moving with his family to Indonesia.

Having given up acting on TV and the stage, Sundar now produces his daughter's movies, while also managing the Trisakti Group here.

These adamant genes were also evident when Madhumita chose, against all commercial advice, to direct a drama for her debut in the South Indian film industry.

Vallamai Tharayo revolves around a young woman who insists on divorcing her perfectly nice husband to pursue an old lover, little realizing that the ex-boyfriend has already moved on.

While Madhumita herself was too nervous to watch the premiere, the audience reportedly responded positively to the extent that some didn't believe that it was a debut.

"It's a big thing *for people to say that* if it's your first film," Madhumita said, and acknowledged the role of her team in protecting and putting forth her vision in the movie, which has already won three awards since its release in 2008, including the Tamil Nadu State Government Award. She has also been invited to screen Vallamai Tharayo at several film festivals, including the Newport Beach Film Festival in the US.

Tackling sensitive and difficult storylines or casting less popular actors are choices Madhumita has made in an effort to give her movies a balance between art and entertainment.

Making sure to hold auditions for her second movie, Kola Kolaya Mundhirika, as well (rather than casting well-established actors), Madhumita decided to take on a drastically different genre, having had enough "seriousness" for a while.

The movie, whose script was written by veteran comedian Crazy Mohan, has allowed Madhumita to explore another dimension of her filmmaking skills, and adds to her already extensive and accomplished repertoire.

"A director shouldn't restrict his or herself to one genre," Madhumita says, "because it's about proving versatility to his or herself.

"It's definitely a good feeling to get selected for awards, but it also puts pressure and expectations on *your performance as* a director."

Kola Kolaya Mundhirika is due to be released in December, 2009.

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