Education
Public
Charity
Short film
Awareness
Project Overview
Dementia care.
Kiran is a powerful short film commissioned by a team of academics and funded by the National Institute for Health Research as part of the South Asian Dementia Pathway Toolkit (ADAPT) project. This eight-minute drama sheds light on the unique challenges faced by British South Asian families caring for loved ones with dementia. Created to both educate and evoke empathy, Kiran serves as a crucial tool for raising awareness and creating understanding around dementia care inequalities.
Background
In the UK, dementia disproportionately affects South Asian, Chinese, and African Caribbean communities, who often face late diagnoses, language barriers, and culturally insensitive care. This inequity leads to missed treatments and increased crises. The ADAPT study was launched to combat these challenges, creating culturally sensitive resources to improve dementia care pathways for South Asian communities. Through research, collaboration, and community engagement, the study highlights the need for tailored support and accessible care.
Purpose of the Film
The academics behind the ADAPT project approached filmmaker Bhulla Beghal to create a piece that authentically portrays the emotional toll and cultural challenges of dementia caregiving in the South Asian community. Bhulla proposed a drama that draws from real-life experiences shared by public contributors. Kiran was developed to inspire understanding and drive systemic change, educating viewers from all cultural backgrounds about the lived reality of South Asian carers.
Story Synopsis
Kiran follows the journey of its titular character, once a vibrant and independent businesswoman, who has become the full-time carer for her elderly mother with dementia. The film captures Kiran’s emotional struggle, balancing relentless caregiving duties with the erosion of her own identity. Set against the backdrop of repetitive daily routines and endless frustrations, the story builds to a poignant and powerful breakdown, embodying the silent battles many carers face.
Creative Approach
Bhulla approached the film with a focus on authenticity and emotional impact. He wrote the script based on weeks of in-depth interviews with South Asian families affected by dementia, ensuring the story’s accuracy and resonance. The decision to never show the mother’s face kept the focus on Kiran’s experience as a carer, using sound, cinematography, and direction to evoke the presence of dementia subtly but powerfully. Collaborating with a skilled and empathetic crew, Bhulla created a film that is both beautiful and heartbreakingly raw.
Cast
AMBIKA SHARMA as Kiran
Ambika brought a deeply personal connection to her role, drawing from her own experience caring for her grandmother with dementia. Her performance, especially in the film’s climactic breakdown, was so impactful that it influenced script adjustments and earned her a Best Performance nomination at Exit 6 Film Festival.
PROMILA THOMAS as Mother
With minimal but crucial physical performance, Promila conveyed the quiet presence of a person with dementia.
GEORGE KAFETZIS as Prab
George portrayed Kiran’s brother, embodying the insensitivity and lack of empathy that adds to Kiran’s burdens.
Production Highlights
Filmed over two days in Edgbaston with a crew of 15, Kiran balanced cinematic beauty with raw emotion. Tom Martin, the Director of Photography, worked closely with Bhulla to juxtapose the film’s striking visuals with its tense narrative. Production designer Surjit Simplay and hair & makeup artist Amrita Mudan paid close attention to detail, ensuring authenticity in Kiran’s environment and appearance. The uncut, three-minute breakdown scene exemplifies the film’s commitment to emotional realism.
Post-Production
Edited by Bhulla, Kiran masterfully weaves together pacing and tension, using rapid montages and moments of quiet to reflect the unpredictable nature of caregiving. The decision to forgo a musical score in favour of natural sound effects heightened the film’s realism. Colourist Lee Robinson enhanced the film’s juxtaposition of beauty and intensity, while sound designer Mark Smith emphasised the repetitive chores to build an immersive auditory experience.
Impact
Kiran has made a profound impact on both academic and public audiences, serving as a crucial educational tool that resonates deeply with carers and professionals alike. Many carers have expressed how the film authentically captures their struggles, with one stating, “It’s very difficult to get others to understand what I went through. I feel I can show them this film, and they will finally understand.” Others have shared how the film evoked powerful emotions, with comments like, “The film is absolutely amazing; I was crying so much,” and, “I’ve never seen something embody what I’m going through as well as this film.”
Academics have also highlighted the film’s significance, describing it as “shining a torch for people who have been scrambling around in the dark,” emphasising how Kiran illuminates the often-overlooked challenges faced by South Asian carers and provides a sense of understanding and validation for those navigating the complexities of dementia care.
Film Festival Success
Kiran enjoyed a successful film festival run from June 2022 to November 2023, screening at notable festivals such as:
Aesthetica Film Festival
York, UK.
The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
San Francisco, California, USA.
London Indian Film Festival
London, UK.
Berlin British Shorts Film Festival
Berlin, Germany.
Birmingham Indian Film Festival
Birmingham, UK.
TIDE Film Festival
New York City, USA.
Manchester Film Festival
Manchester, UK.
Phoenix Film Festival
Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
London Rocks International Film Festival
London, UK.
Exit 6 Film Festival
Basingstoke, UK.
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival
Rhode Island, USA.
North East International Film Festival – Newcastle, UK.
Clones Film Festival
Monaghan, Ireland.
Bute Street Festival
Luton, UK.
Brighton Rocks International Film Festival
Brighton, UK.
Kino London Short Film Festival
London, UK.
Sunday Shorts Film Festival
London, UK.
Conference Highlights
In July 2022, Kiran was featured at Only Connect in Falmouth, Cornwall, where we presented the film to an engaged audience, followed by a thought-provoking Q&A. The film was also screened at Tate Modern, St Ives, drawing impactful discussions about dementia care in South Asian communities, and we shared insights in an interview with BBC Radio Cornwall.
Further recognition came in November 2022, when Kiran was showcased at the 16th UK Dementia Congress, a premier event for advancements in dementia care. The film sparked critical conversations on culturally tailored support and the power of storytelling in driving awareness and change.
Credits
Writer & Director
Bhulla Beghal
Producer
Daniel Coley
Executive Producers
Prof. Richard Cheston
Dr. Sahdia Parveen
Dr. Emily Dodd
Dr. Karan Jutlla
Dr. Gary Fry
Dr. Paula Smith
Jabeer Butt
David Truswell
Public Contributors
Miss Manjit Nijjar
Mrs. Jagdish Brar-Orgill
Cast
Ambika Sharma
Kiran Dosanjh
Promila Thomas
Mother
George Kafetzis
Prab
Ryan Harvey
Service Advisor
Crew
Director of Photography – Tom Martin
Editor – Bhulla Beghal
Production Designer – Surjit Simplay
Hair & Makeup Artist – Amrita Mudan
Production Coordinator – Ryan Harvey
1st Assistant Director – Daniel Coley
Camera Assistant – Ben Waldron
Gaffer – Ian Braznell
Spark – Paul Ullah
Sound Recordist – Paul Withers
Production Assistant – Fran Pearson
Runner – Di Meng
Runner – Bethany Child
Colourist – Lee Robinson
Sound Designer & Mixer – Mark Smith
Location Manager – Raj Kaur Cholia
Catering – Harbhajan Kaur Cholia, Raj Kaur Cholia, Jaya Mahey