Anger Issues
New Haven, Connecticut | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
Rekha embarks on a road trip with her WWE-obsessed grandmother (Nani Ma) to meet John Cena. Through absurd adventures, they finally open up about their experiences with domestic violence and mental illness, reclaiming power through intergenerational love, honest conversations, and beating people up!
Anger Issues
New Haven, Connecticut | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | Connecticut, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,615 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
67 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Rekha embarks on a road trip with her WWE-obsessed grandmother (Nani Ma) to meet John Cena. Through absurd adventures, they finally open up about their experiences with domestic violence and mental illness, reclaiming power through intergenerational love, honest conversations, and beating people up!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
“Ohhh my goodness, folks! It’s happening! Rekha ‘The Artist of Rage’ has had enough! She’s charging full force—WHAM! Right into her art teacher’s gut with a devastating CLOTHESLINE!”
Rekha, an Indian American high school student from New Jersey, is RAGEFUL. Art has always been her vehicle of self-expression, so when her art teacher, Mr. Wright, tells her he doesn’t see a future for her in the arts, she’s ready to FIGHT! But, unfortunately, it all plays out in her imagination.
Imagine the raw defiance of Polite Society meeting the intergenerational heart of The Farewell—Anger Issues follows Rekha as she embarks on a road trip with her WWE-obsessed grandmother, Nani Ma, to meet beloved wrestler John Cena. In secret, Nani Ma schemes to use this journey as an opportunity to “fix” Rekha’s anxiety and teach her how to stand up for herself as they both try to protect each other in their own well-intentioned ways. As they hit the road and encounter dodgy bouncers, they finally open up about their experiences with domestic violence and mental illness, reclaiming power through intergenerational love, honest conversations, and beating people up– John Cena style!
The anxiety of a younger generation meets the resilience of the older, asking: What does it really mean to be brave?
Director’s Note
In eighth grade, I interviewed my grandmothers on camera to honor them and their unacknowledged labor, creating my first film. As I pieced together their rich lives, I uncovered stories of love, mutual aid, child marriage, and mango pickles. Now, as I study film in college to challenge conventional narratives and oppressive norms, I continue collecting the stories of my mother, aunts, and loved ones for an ongoing documentary—or perhaps a thank-you letter. Combining my roots in organizing and ethnography, I strive to tell my community’s overlooked narratives, hoping to inspire reflection, change, and laughter.
My family’s stories and the oral histories I collected from some survivors of domestic violence in New Jersey are the heart of Anger Issues. Imagine coming home from dreary middle school afternoons to the chaos of “tacky” WWE commentary, hip-hop music, and my Nani Ma aggressively yelling at wrestlers on TV while man-spreading in her sari. In a world where women are taught to be silent and sacrificial while enduring men’s socially acceptable anger issues, WWE perhaps provided her a rare space to feel free, powerful, and rightfully rageful.
48% of South Asians in the US experience physical violence in their homes. Through these oral histories, I’ve learned how women survive, resist, and find joy in unlikely places. But these accounts have also left me with questions—how can the women in my community fiercely protect their families and teach their children to stand up for themselves while (understandably) hesitating to advocate for themselves?
Anger Issues explores the effects of domestic violence and provocatively argues that anger and the desire to fight back are valid—and can be vital steps toward healing and demanding change. Blending humor with difficult discussions, the film contrasts socially accepted entertainment violence with the often-stigmatized, private reality of domestic violence, inviting viewers to see survival through an unconventional lens. I hope this film helps survivors feel less alone and ashamed while inspiring action against gender-based violence. Watching Rekha passionately pursue art and Nani Ma eagerly chase her love for WWE and John Cena despite all they have been through, I want it to serve as a reminder to dream boldly and without shame. By honoring Nani Ma—and the countless women and feminized people taught to endure hardship in silence—I hope it offers catharsis, empowerment, and understanding.
- Ishikaa
Tone & Style
Anger Issues will be wacky, provocative, exciting, heartfelt, and cathartic! Basically, this film will pack a punch—literally and emotionally!
We aim to bring this vision to life through:
- Witty, thoughtful, and bilingual dialogue in Hindi and English that captures the humor and heart of intergenerational relationships.
- Intimate close-ups that pull audiences into Rekha’s emotions, making every moment feel raw and personal.
- A bold, provocative imagined world blending WWE-inspired spectacle with cinematic Bollywood filmmaking techniques to create a unique, high-energy visual style.
We also draw huge inspiration from:
Polite Society (2023) by Nida Manzoor
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We hope to draw on this film's dramatic fight scenes with South Asian and Bollywood influences, vibrant color palette and lighting, and the warm relationship between sisters who fight to protect each other.
The Farewell (2019) by Lulu Wang
.jpg)
We aim to mimic how this film beautifully balances humor and lightheartedness with urgent, painful discussions and showcases a heartfelt relationship between granddaughter and grandmother with immense understanding, comfort, and care.
Lady Bird (2017) by Greta Gerwig
.jpg)
Anger Issues hopes to draw from this film's provocative, everyday absurdities and coming-of-age story where both the mother and daughter, who are flawed and frustrating yet relatable, grow and evolve.
Timeline
January: Casting and location scouting
February: Crowdfunding, preproduction, and rehearsals
March 20-24th: Production (Shoot days!)
End of April: Post-production and first cut complete (Anger Issues is Ishikaa's senior thesis film, so she is required to showcase a rough cut to graduate.)
Fall: Complete initial festival cut and share the film with people with exclusive early access (only $500!)
EARLY 2026: Public Release of Anger Issues!
COMING SOON TO YOU IN 2026...
Budget
We need your help to bring Anger Issues to life! Our goal is to raise $10,000—an ambitious number, but the absolute minimum needed to give this production the love, care, and time it deserves. Every dollar goes directly toward fairly compensating, feeding, and housing our cast and crew while ensuring a safe, equitable, and (ironically) anger-free work environment. This is especially crucial as our production includes stage combat, and our team will be putting in grueling hours for incredibly generous rates. Honestly, we wish we could pay them a million dollars each—maybe with your help, we can get a little closer!
Budget Breakdown:
32.0% - Compensating Cast & Crew (including Gear)
18% - Post-Prod (Color, Sound Mix, Score, Festival Fees)
14.4% - Meals
14.0% - Art (including Graphic Design), Set Dressing, and HMU Costs
10.8% - Stunt Coordinator Fee
7.2% - Housing & Travel Accommodations Non-Local Cast & Crew
3.6% - Payroll Service & Insurance
In full transparency, while we are being extremely frugal with our budget, $10,000 is just the baseline budget we need to make Anger Issues happen. If we exceed our goal, here’s how the additional funds will be used:
- Seed & Spark platform Fee: A whopping 5% of our crowdfunding goal-- $500
- Better Compensation: Paying our cast and crew more fairly for their hard work and dedication.
- Higher-Quality Production: Enhancing costumes, props, and set design to bring the world of Anger Issues to life even more vividly.
- Post-Production & Festival Submissions: Covering editing, sound design, and entry fees to get our film seen by wider audiences.
We would really appreciate any financial contribution, and every dollar truly makes a difference!
How Can I Help?
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal to receive funding—if we do not reach this in 30 days, we won't receive any funds at all :(
If you’re unable to contribute financially, you can still be a huge part of making Anger Issues happen! Help us spread the word by sharing our socials (@angerissuesfilm) on your story and sending our Seed & Spark profile to friends, family, and any billionaire connections! Every share brings us closer to our goal, and we appreciate your support more than words can say!
We hope Anger Issues sparks not just reflection and conversation, but real action. Beyond supporting our film, we encourage you to donate to and get involved with organizations that provide crucial resources for survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence within the South Asian community.
Incredible Organizations Making a Difference:
Sneha: https://sneha.org/
Sakhi: https://sakhi.org/
Manavi: https://www.manavi.org/donate/
Narika: https://donorbox.org/donatetonarika
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Meals for Cast and Crew
Costs $2,000
Please help us make sure our cast and crew are well-fed and energized for a long five-day shoot. This means multiple meals, water, snacks!
Cast Compensation
Costs $1,500
Please help us compensate our super talented and hardworking actors fairly!
Crew Compensation
Costs $1,500
Please help us compensate our incredible crew and their kits!
Set Design and Wardrobe
Costs $1,500
We need props and wardrobe items to build a high school art classroom, wrestling ring, elaborate South Asian wrestling outfits, and jail...
Post-Production Costs
Costs $2,500
This includes color grading, sound mixing, score, and film festival fees!
Housing and Travel Fees
Costs $1,000
Many of our cast and crew are coming out of town. If you are in New Haven and can offer a place to stay, please let us know!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet our incredible team!
ISHIKAA KOTHARI (she/her), Director/Writer/Producer
Ishikaa Kothari is an Indian American filmmaker from New Jersey. She also organizes against policing structures and gender-based violence while collecting oral histories of diaspora. Drawing on these experiences and her love for absurdity, satire, and Bollywood, Ishikaa hopes to tell stories rooted in community that educate and encourage action, reflection, and laughter. She has made three short films– including “Masala Eggs,” a horror comedy about a South Asian student donating her eggs that finds herself trapped by white commissioning parents obsessed with South Asia. In her free time, Ishikaa attends Yale University, studying Computer Science (yikes) and Film and Media Studies with a concentration in Production.
AANIKA ERAGAM (she/her), Producer
Aanika Eragam is a Junior in Yale College majoring in English. She is interested in using plays and films to tell stories about the South Asian diasporic experience. She is from Alpharetta, GA where she began her career as a poet, holding titles as the National Student Poet for the Southeast and National Youth Poet Laureate for the South. At Yale, she is a member of the spoken word group WORD Performance Poetry. She has reported on South Asian television representation for Teen Vogue. Last summer, she interned with the NBCU Launch team, where she supported NBC’s TV Writers Program for emerging episodic television writers. At Yale, she currently holds roles in various film and theater productions, including as Assistant Stage Manager of the play PEACHY: a sorta chekovian dramedy and Producer of the short film Anger Issues. She is also currently working on a new play about South Asian beauty salons, which was selected for development in the 2025 Yale Playwrights Festival.
NICOLE AHSAN (she/her), Producer
Nicole is a pre-med junior majoring in Film and Media Studies. She is passionate about storytelling mainly through documentary to preserve generational memories. In her latest short film, Passages: A Family Matter she interviewed her “found parents” to document memories from their childhood and journey to America. The film also captures the resilience of women, focusing on how they adapted to their often isolating environment all while laying the groundwork for their families to thrive. Currently, she’s helping produce and shoot a culinary medicine video series to help medical students learn about healthy eating and how to prepare certain recipes. Nicole also conducts research with the Sumigray lab at Yale School of Medicine where she uses microscopy to study how the small intestine changes over development. She enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and trying out new restaurants. She is excited to be a producer for Anger Issues since it humorously, yet poignantly spotlights the concealed experiences of South Asian women.
CHARLIE GLEBERMAN (he/they), Director of Photography
Charlie Gleberman is a cinematographer, photographer, lighting technician, and camera assistant based in New York. His work has been shown at Nantucket, Bushwick, Rhode Island, and Chelsea Film Festivals, as well as on the History Channel and in Vogue Australia. He has photographed for the American Museum of Natural History and The Nature Conservancy in New York His work spans many different forms and genres. From live concert videos to narrative dramas to documentaries he enjoys finding and creating emotive visual languages. In May 2023 he graduated with distinction from Yale University with BA in Art concentrating in photography. In his free time he enjoys reading, rock climbing, cooking, and playing video games.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
“Ohhh my goodness, folks! It’s happening! Rekha ‘The Artist of Rage’ has had enough! She’s charging full force—WHAM! Right into her art teacher’s gut with a devastating CLOTHESLINE!”
Rekha, an Indian American high school student from New Jersey, is RAGEFUL. Art has always been her vehicle of self-expression, so when her art teacher, Mr. Wright, tells her he doesn’t see a future for her in the arts, she’s ready to FIGHT! But, unfortunately, it all plays out in her imagination.
Imagine the raw defiance of Polite Society meeting the intergenerational heart of The Farewell—Anger Issues follows Rekha as she embarks on a road trip with her WWE-obsessed grandmother, Nani Ma, to meet beloved wrestler John Cena. In secret, Nani Ma schemes to use this journey as an opportunity to “fix” Rekha’s anxiety and teach her how to stand up for herself as they both try to protect each other in their own well-intentioned ways. As they hit the road and encounter dodgy bouncers, they finally open up about their experiences with domestic violence and mental illness, reclaiming power through intergenerational love, honest conversations, and beating people up– John Cena style!
The anxiety of a younger generation meets the resilience of the older, asking: What does it really mean to be brave?
Director’s Note
In eighth grade, I interviewed my grandmothers on camera to honor them and their unacknowledged labor, creating my first film. As I pieced together their rich lives, I uncovered stories of love, mutual aid, child marriage, and mango pickles. Now, as I study film in college to challenge conventional narratives and oppressive norms, I continue collecting the stories of my mother, aunts, and loved ones for an ongoing documentary—or perhaps a thank-you letter. Combining my roots in organizing and ethnography, I strive to tell my community’s overlooked narratives, hoping to inspire reflection, change, and laughter.
My family’s stories and the oral histories I collected from some survivors of domestic violence in New Jersey are the heart of Anger Issues. Imagine coming home from dreary middle school afternoons to the chaos of “tacky” WWE commentary, hip-hop music, and my Nani Ma aggressively yelling at wrestlers on TV while man-spreading in her sari. In a world where women are taught to be silent and sacrificial while enduring men’s socially acceptable anger issues, WWE perhaps provided her a rare space to feel free, powerful, and rightfully rageful.
48% of South Asians in the US experience physical violence in their homes. Through these oral histories, I’ve learned how women survive, resist, and find joy in unlikely places. But these accounts have also left me with questions—how can the women in my community fiercely protect their families and teach their children to stand up for themselves while (understandably) hesitating to advocate for themselves?
Anger Issues explores the effects of domestic violence and provocatively argues that anger and the desire to fight back are valid—and can be vital steps toward healing and demanding change. Blending humor with difficult discussions, the film contrasts socially accepted entertainment violence with the often-stigmatized, private reality of domestic violence, inviting viewers to see survival through an unconventional lens. I hope this film helps survivors feel less alone and ashamed while inspiring action against gender-based violence. Watching Rekha passionately pursue art and Nani Ma eagerly chase her love for WWE and John Cena despite all they have been through, I want it to serve as a reminder to dream boldly and without shame. By honoring Nani Ma—and the countless women and feminized people taught to endure hardship in silence—I hope it offers catharsis, empowerment, and understanding.
- Ishikaa
Tone & Style
Anger Issues will be wacky, provocative, exciting, heartfelt, and cathartic! Basically, this film will pack a punch—literally and emotionally!
We aim to bring this vision to life through:
- Witty, thoughtful, and bilingual dialogue in Hindi and English that captures the humor and heart of intergenerational relationships.
- Intimate close-ups that pull audiences into Rekha’s emotions, making every moment feel raw and personal.
- A bold, provocative imagined world blending WWE-inspired spectacle with cinematic Bollywood filmmaking techniques to create a unique, high-energy visual style.
We also draw huge inspiration from:
Polite Society (2023) by Nida Manzoor
We hope to draw on this film's dramatic fight scenes with South Asian and Bollywood influences, vibrant color palette and lighting, and the warm relationship between sisters who fight to protect each other.
The Farewell (2019) by Lulu Wang
We aim to mimic how this film beautifully balances humor and lightheartedness with urgent, painful discussions and showcases a heartfelt relationship between granddaughter and grandmother with immense understanding, comfort, and care.
Lady Bird (2017) by Greta Gerwig
Anger Issues hopes to draw from this film's provocative, everyday absurdities and coming-of-age story where both the mother and daughter, who are flawed and frustrating yet relatable, grow and evolve.
Timeline
January: Casting and location scouting
February: Crowdfunding, preproduction, and rehearsals
March 20-24th: Production (Shoot days!)
End of April: Post-production and first cut complete (Anger Issues is Ishikaa's senior thesis film, so she is required to showcase a rough cut to graduate.)
Fall: Complete initial festival cut and share the film with people with exclusive early access (only $500!)
EARLY 2026: Public Release of Anger Issues!
COMING SOON TO YOU IN 2026...
Budget
We need your help to bring Anger Issues to life! Our goal is to raise $10,000—an ambitious number, but the absolute minimum needed to give this production the love, care, and time it deserves. Every dollar goes directly toward fairly compensating, feeding, and housing our cast and crew while ensuring a safe, equitable, and (ironically) anger-free work environment. This is especially crucial as our production includes stage combat, and our team will be putting in grueling hours for incredibly generous rates. Honestly, we wish we could pay them a million dollars each—maybe with your help, we can get a little closer!
Budget Breakdown:
32.0% - Compensating Cast & Crew (including Gear)
18% - Post-Prod (Color, Sound Mix, Score, Festival Fees)
14.4% - Meals
14.0% - Art (including Graphic Design), Set Dressing, and HMU Costs
10.8% - Stunt Coordinator Fee
7.2% - Housing & Travel Accommodations Non-Local Cast & Crew
3.6% - Payroll Service & Insurance
In full transparency, while we are being extremely frugal with our budget, $10,000 is just the baseline budget we need to make Anger Issues happen. If we exceed our goal, here’s how the additional funds will be used:
- Seed & Spark platform Fee: A whopping 5% of our crowdfunding goal-- $500
- Better Compensation: Paying our cast and crew more fairly for their hard work and dedication.
- Higher-Quality Production: Enhancing costumes, props, and set design to bring the world of Anger Issues to life even more vividly.
- Post-Production & Festival Submissions: Covering editing, sound design, and entry fees to get our film seen by wider audiences.
We would really appreciate any financial contribution, and every dollar truly makes a difference!
How Can I Help?
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal to receive funding—if we do not reach this in 30 days, we won't receive any funds at all :(
If you’re unable to contribute financially, you can still be a huge part of making Anger Issues happen! Help us spread the word by sharing our socials (@angerissuesfilm) on your story and sending our Seed & Spark profile to friends, family, and any billionaire connections! Every share brings us closer to our goal, and we appreciate your support more than words can say!
We hope Anger Issues sparks not just reflection and conversation, but real action. Beyond supporting our film, we encourage you to donate to and get involved with organizations that provide crucial resources for survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence within the South Asian community.
Incredible Organizations Making a Difference:
Sneha: https://sneha.org/
Sakhi: https://sakhi.org/
Manavi: https://www.manavi.org/donate/
Narika: https://donorbox.org/donatetonarika
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Meals for Cast and Crew
Costs $2,000
Please help us make sure our cast and crew are well-fed and energized for a long five-day shoot. This means multiple meals, water, snacks!
Cast Compensation
Costs $1,500
Please help us compensate our super talented and hardworking actors fairly!
Crew Compensation
Costs $1,500
Please help us compensate our incredible crew and their kits!
Set Design and Wardrobe
Costs $1,500
We need props and wardrobe items to build a high school art classroom, wrestling ring, elaborate South Asian wrestling outfits, and jail...
Post-Production Costs
Costs $2,500
This includes color grading, sound mixing, score, and film festival fees!
Housing and Travel Fees
Costs $1,000
Many of our cast and crew are coming out of town. If you are in New Haven and can offer a place to stay, please let us know!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet our incredible team!
ISHIKAA KOTHARI (she/her), Director/Writer/Producer
Ishikaa Kothari is an Indian American filmmaker from New Jersey. She also organizes against policing structures and gender-based violence while collecting oral histories of diaspora. Drawing on these experiences and her love for absurdity, satire, and Bollywood, Ishikaa hopes to tell stories rooted in community that educate and encourage action, reflection, and laughter. She has made three short films– including “Masala Eggs,” a horror comedy about a South Asian student donating her eggs that finds herself trapped by white commissioning parents obsessed with South Asia. In her free time, Ishikaa attends Yale University, studying Computer Science (yikes) and Film and Media Studies with a concentration in Production.
AANIKA ERAGAM (she/her), Producer
Aanika Eragam is a Junior in Yale College majoring in English. She is interested in using plays and films to tell stories about the South Asian diasporic experience. She is from Alpharetta, GA where she began her career as a poet, holding titles as the National Student Poet for the Southeast and National Youth Poet Laureate for the South. At Yale, she is a member of the spoken word group WORD Performance Poetry. She has reported on South Asian television representation for Teen Vogue. Last summer, she interned with the NBCU Launch team, where she supported NBC’s TV Writers Program for emerging episodic television writers. At Yale, she currently holds roles in various film and theater productions, including as Assistant Stage Manager of the play PEACHY: a sorta chekovian dramedy and Producer of the short film Anger Issues. She is also currently working on a new play about South Asian beauty salons, which was selected for development in the 2025 Yale Playwrights Festival.
NICOLE AHSAN (she/her), Producer
Nicole is a pre-med junior majoring in Film and Media Studies. She is passionate about storytelling mainly through documentary to preserve generational memories. In her latest short film, Passages: A Family Matter she interviewed her “found parents” to document memories from their childhood and journey to America. The film also captures the resilience of women, focusing on how they adapted to their often isolating environment all while laying the groundwork for their families to thrive. Currently, she’s helping produce and shoot a culinary medicine video series to help medical students learn about healthy eating and how to prepare certain recipes. Nicole also conducts research with the Sumigray lab at Yale School of Medicine where she uses microscopy to study how the small intestine changes over development. She enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and trying out new restaurants. She is excited to be a producer for Anger Issues since it humorously, yet poignantly spotlights the concealed experiences of South Asian women.
CHARLIE GLEBERMAN (he/they), Director of Photography
Charlie Gleberman is a cinematographer, photographer, lighting technician, and camera assistant based in New York. His work has been shown at Nantucket, Bushwick, Rhode Island, and Chelsea Film Festivals, as well as on the History Channel and in Vogue Australia. He has photographed for the American Museum of Natural History and The Nature Conservancy in New York His work spans many different forms and genres. From live concert videos to narrative dramas to documentaries he enjoys finding and creating emotive visual languages. In May 2023 he graduated with distinction from Yale University with BA in Art concentrating in photography. In his free time he enjoys reading, rock climbing, cooking, and playing video games.