Dehliz
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
Dehliz is a short family drama about a young girl Ruhi, as she navigates her first encounter with grief, whilst packing up her grandfather’s house after his passing. This film is about family and the bonds that sustain us. It’s also about grief, which is just another word for love.
Dehliz
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
2 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,050 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
42 supporters | followers
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Dehliz is a short family drama about a young girl Ruhi, as she navigates her first encounter with grief, whilst packing up her grandfather’s house after his passing. This film is about family and the bonds that sustain us. It’s also about grief, which is just another word for love.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Ater losing her grandfather, 19-year old Ruhi begins seeing him appear in flashes around her family home - visions that force her to reckon with her grief as her family prepares to leave the only place where his presence still lingers.
In various ways, grief has colored the last few years of my life, and I have found myself returning to it in my writing time and again, in an attempt to understand it. I wanted to write about the way we stagger blindly through the days after loss, where stepping back into our old lives feels incongruent and there is then a second wave of grief that washes over us, begging the question "How can I leave them behind?”
The film is titled Dehliz, which translates literally to threshold because I have always found solace in the belief that a person’s soul can never die, only transcend - crossing the threshold of this life into the next. As more time goes by, the sharp edges begin to soften and the feelings of grief are sweetened by memory and the thoughts of my loved ones’ spirits on the precipice of the next great adventure. This project aims to show just that.
Dehliz follows Ruhi, who struggles to navigate her grief following her grandfather’s death while her family prepares to pack up his home. While her pragmatic parents handle the logistics of sorting through his documents and selling the property, Ruhi is haunted by tender visions of her grandfather going about his daily routine. Her denial boils over when she attempts to stop her grandmother from emptying his closet, only to realize they share the same lingering grief. Bonded by bittersweet memories found in the hairs on his pillow and the pockets of his clothes, Ruhi watches her grandfather’s spirit finally depart, allowing her to begin moving on.
By contrasting the stillness of memory with the cacophony of a household in transition, Dehliz aims to honour the bonds that sustain us, offering a tender reminder that while homes may change, the spirit of our loved ones remains woven into the fabric of the family. This film hopes to be a soft place to land for those experiencing the ache of grief for the first time.
What We Need From You
Our team has been lucky enough to secure some equipment and various resources from New York University, but we still need your help!
That's why we're looking to secure funding for:
Crew Meals & Transportation
Camera, Gear, and Sound Equipment Rentals & Insurance
Securing locations
... and more! Check out our "wishlist" for more details on how your contribution will be used.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design
Costs $1,200
Allow us to build the world of "Dehliz!"
Meals/Crafty
Costs $2,000
Food is essential on set! Your donation will help us keep our cast and crew nourished and energized throughout all production days.
Transportation
Costs $2,300
Help us rent an EQ and crew van to keep our set running smoothly and our production on schedule!
Locations
Costs $2,000
Help us secure our locations for this project!
Insurance
Costs $1,000
Insurance keeps our cast, crew, and equipment safe! With your support you’ll help us secure the coverage we need.
Camera Rentals
Costs $1,000
Allow us to get the proper equipment we need to bring Dehliz to life!
Distribution
Costs $500
Help us cover submission fees and distribution costs!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dehliz is an NYU senior thesis project written and directed by Anusha Lara. The project is in collaboration with director of photography Angela Kwak and producers CJ Martinez and Grace Wong. The crew have worked closely together since the beginning of their time at NYU and share common values and work ethic, along with a mutual respect for one another that has proven successful time and time again.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Ater losing her grandfather, 19-year old Ruhi begins seeing him appear in flashes around her family home - visions that force her to reckon with her grief as her family prepares to leave the only place where his presence still lingers.
In various ways, grief has colored the last few years of my life, and I have found myself returning to it in my writing time and again, in an attempt to understand it. I wanted to write about the way we stagger blindly through the days after loss, where stepping back into our old lives feels incongruent and there is then a second wave of grief that washes over us, begging the question "How can I leave them behind?”
The film is titled Dehliz, which translates literally to threshold because I have always found solace in the belief that a person’s soul can never die, only transcend - crossing the threshold of this life into the next. As more time goes by, the sharp edges begin to soften and the feelings of grief are sweetened by memory and the thoughts of my loved ones’ spirits on the precipice of the next great adventure. This project aims to show just that.
Dehliz follows Ruhi, who struggles to navigate her grief following her grandfather’s death while her family prepares to pack up his home. While her pragmatic parents handle the logistics of sorting through his documents and selling the property, Ruhi is haunted by tender visions of her grandfather going about his daily routine. Her denial boils over when she attempts to stop her grandmother from emptying his closet, only to realize they share the same lingering grief. Bonded by bittersweet memories found in the hairs on his pillow and the pockets of his clothes, Ruhi watches her grandfather’s spirit finally depart, allowing her to begin moving on.
By contrasting the stillness of memory with the cacophony of a household in transition, Dehliz aims to honour the bonds that sustain us, offering a tender reminder that while homes may change, the spirit of our loved ones remains woven into the fabric of the family. This film hopes to be a soft place to land for those experiencing the ache of grief for the first time.
What We Need From You
Our team has been lucky enough to secure some equipment and various resources from New York University, but we still need your help!
That's why we're looking to secure funding for:
Crew Meals & Transportation
Camera, Gear, and Sound Equipment Rentals & Insurance
Securing locations
... and more! Check out our "wishlist" for more details on how your contribution will be used.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design
Costs $1,200
Allow us to build the world of "Dehliz!"
Meals/Crafty
Costs $2,000
Food is essential on set! Your donation will help us keep our cast and crew nourished and energized throughout all production days.
Transportation
Costs $2,300
Help us rent an EQ and crew van to keep our set running smoothly and our production on schedule!
Locations
Costs $2,000
Help us secure our locations for this project!
Insurance
Costs $1,000
Insurance keeps our cast, crew, and equipment safe! With your support you’ll help us secure the coverage we need.
Camera Rentals
Costs $1,000
Allow us to get the proper equipment we need to bring Dehliz to life!
Distribution
Costs $500
Help us cover submission fees and distribution costs!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dehliz is an NYU senior thesis project written and directed by Anusha Lara. The project is in collaboration with director of photography Angela Kwak and producers CJ Martinez and Grace Wong. The crew have worked closely together since the beginning of their time at NYU and share common values and work ethic, along with a mutual respect for one another that has proven successful time and time again.