JĀTI
Dallas, Texas | Film Short
Drama
When deeply rooted biases and discrimination tests a couple's love, their relationship faces the reaching effects of casteism beyond India.
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$15,671
Goal: $15,000 for production
When deeply rooted biases and discrimination tests a couple's love, their relationship faces the reaching effects of casteism beyond India.
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Exciting news! Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve reached our $15,000 crowdfunding goal! Now, we’re aiming even higher with stretch goals to make this project the best it can be. Every contribution helps us push Jati even further. Thank you for being part of this journey!
Stretch Goal #1: $1,500 for Music
A compelling soundtrack will elevate the emotional impact of our film.
Stretch Goal #2: $1,500 for Sound Design
Detailed, immersive sound will bring the world of our story to life.
Stretch Goal #3: $1,000 for Color Grading
Professional color grading will ensure the visuals are as powerful as the story itself.
JATI is a powerful 20-minute U.S. drama, set in Texas, that explores the caste system through an Indian narrative, highlighting its presence and impact beyond the borders of India. The film delves into themes of love, control, and the repercussions of challenging societal boundaries, prompting viewers to examine the invisible walls that divide us. The story centers on Amulya, who comes from a dominant-caste family, and Vinay, who comes from an oppressed-caste. They visit her parents in the U.S. to seek her father Sampath’s approval for their marriage. Their arrival ignites tension, particularly with Amulya’s mother, Vani, who opposes inter-caste unions—a stance also shared by her sister Shwetha and brother-in-law Mohan.
During an uneasy dinner, Vinay’s attempts to win Sampath’s approval are met with caste-based humiliation, pushing Vinay to the brink and leading him to reveal a deeply personal secret in a moment of desperation. Sampath’s furious reaction results in Vinay being expelled from the house, leaving Amulya devastated.
In the days that follow, Amulya’s attempts to reason with her father grow increasingly volatile. Torn between her family’s expectations and her own desires, Amulya is forced to make an agonizing decision, leaving the audience to question whether she will break free from tradition or remain bound by it.
CONCEPT AND THEME
JĀTI explores the complexities of inter-caste marriage, revealing the emotional turmoil that arises when love collides with cultural beliefs. The film examines the struggle for identity and acceptance within families rooted in tradition, offering a look at the consequences of challenging established norms. As the younger generation seeks progress and freedom, their clash with the values of their elders intensifies, leading to a confrontation that forces them to choose between love and family loyalty. Through this narrative, JĀTI not only tells a story of conflict but also prompts reflection on caste, identity, and the cost of breaking societal boundaries.
CONFLICTS EXPLORED
THE BEGINNING — CULTURAL CONFLICTS
SAMPATH and VANI—dominant-caste parents visiting the U.S. to support their eldest daughter as she prepares to give birth—find themselves in an unexpected situation when their younger daughter, AMULYA, introduces her boyfriend, VINAY, a man from an oppressed-caste.
The film captures the initial tension when Amulya and Vinay arrive at her parents’ home. Vani’s disapproval of their inter-caste relationship sets the stage for the conflict that follows. Sampath’s position as a respected politician and upholder of caste traditions adds complexity, especially since his influence extends beyond their family to a broader community in India.
THE MIDDLE — MAIN CONFLICT
The story intensifies over a family dinner where Vinay gathers the courage to ask Sampath for his approval to marry Amulya. What begins as a plea spirals into a confrontation when Sampath’s caste biases surface. His contempt for Vinay’s background leads to a verbal clash that leaves Vinay humiliated. Vinay’s exit leaves Amulya emotionally torn, trapped between her love for Vinay and her loyalty to her family.
As the evening disintegrates, each family member wrestles with their own struggles caught between opposing sides, and Vani, torn between supporting her husband’s values and her daughter’s happiness.
THE CLIMAX — EMOTIONAL FALLOUT
The aftermath of the confrontation is filled with intensity. Amulya is forced to confront her own beliefs about tradition, while the weight of her family’s expectations pushes her toward a breaking point. Sampath’s unyielding grip on his values leads him to make a hard-hitting choice that risks tearing his family apart.
Vinay’s determination to gain acceptance is shaken, but his love for Amulya and the hope for a future keeps him fighting, even if it means facing deeply rooted societal biases.
WHY THIS FILMS MATTERS
JĀTI is not just about caste—it’s about the human emotions tied to cultural and familial expectations. The film highlights the real decisions people must make when personal love collides with tradition. It resonates with anyone who has had to confront their identity, fight for acceptance, or face family disapproval. And it’s a story that transcends borders, exploring how old-world values continue to influence the present.
WHAT SET THIS CASTE-BASED FILM APART?
What distinguishes JĀTI from other films on caste is its portrayal of each character's internal struggle, set in the USA, and its commentary on the caste system and its propagation beyond the borders of India.
- Vinay, caught between his desire for love and the harsh reality of his caste, faces a constant battle to prove his worthiness, not just to his partner's family but to a society that has long relegated him to the margins.
- Amulya’s dominant-caste privilege allows her to navigate the situation differently from Vinay, who comes from a marginalized Dalit background, where every decision is weighed against a lifetime of discrimination and societal barriers.
- Vani, as a mother, must reconcile her love for her daughters with her commitment to family traditions.
- Meanwhile, Sampath’s adherence to caste boundaries complicates his role as both a father and a political figure, adding a societal layer to the personal conflict.
By exploring these perspectives, the film brings depth to the exploration of caste, making it both intimate and profound.
CHARACTERS
Amulya is in love with Vinay, whom she met in college. With a master's degree and a business analyst job in the U.S., she benefits from her dominant-caste background, which provided her with education and opportunities. Her calm demeanor, traditional values, and beauty reflect her upbringing.
Vinay is from a Dalit background in Telangana. Through reservation, he overcame caste-related and financial challenges to earn a Master's degree in the U.S. Now a civil engineer, his sincerity and honesty shine. Vinay hopes his achievements will win Sampath's approval, showing his success despite his oppressed-caste background.
Vani is Amulya's mother and is torn between supporting Amulya and her beliefs against inter-caste marriage. Her husband's dominant-caste pride and biases add to her stress. Trapped in a patriarchal family, she hopes for a resolution but doubts Sampath will accept Vinay, reflecting the pressures she faces.
Sampath is Amulya's father and is a staunch supporter of India's ruling party and a firm believer in the importance of same-caste marriages. He sees his values as a way to preserve cultural heritage and social order. His patriarchal views can seem condescending, but he believes he acts in his family's and community's best interests.
BUDGET & TIMELINE
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
JĀTI is a film about love, control, and the social boundaries we create. Inspired by real events like the tragic honor killing of Amrutha and Pranay in Hyderabad in 2018, the film confronts viewers with the harsh realities of caste prejudice that persist, even among families who have moved beyond the borders of India. The story’s central question is timeless: can love survive when weighed down by the heavy hand of tradition? By using the medium of fiction, I aim to spark conversations around the nature of inter-caste marriages and the deep-seated cultural biases that remain unchallenged. Through Amulya and Vinay’s journey, I hope to inspire introspection and dialogue about the value of love, and whether it can be truly wise if it comes at the cost of personal and familial destruction.
— Sarthwik Bollu
“The only dream worth having is to dream that you will live while you are alive, and die only when you are dead. To love, to be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of the life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”
― Arundhati Roy, The Cost of Living
“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
― Bhīmrāo Rāmjī Āmbēḍkar
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
About This Team
DIRECTOR & WRITER — SARTHWIK BOLLU
Sarthwik's passion for filmmaking was ignited during a high school reading of The Hound of the Baskervilles, where he discovered cinema’s profound emotional impact. Coming from a working-class background, he pursued filmmaking without formal film school training. His short film THE ROAD NOT TAKEN, inspired by Kafka and Frost, won the "Best Audience Choice Award" as a runner-up at the 2024 Indie Meme Film Festival, highlighting his skill in merging deep storytelling with compelling visuals. His latest project, ORGANIZIZED, a dark-humor film, is nearing completion and set to captivate audiences.
CREATIVE PRODUCER — SACHIN DHEERAJ
Sachin is an award-winning filmmaker with an MFA in Film & Media Production from The University of Texas at Austin. His work has been showcased at prestigious festivals such as Hot Docs, Raindance, and EnergaCAMERIMAGE. Specializing in preserving vanishing communities, his pre-thesis film, TESTIMONY OF ANA, won the National Film Award (Swarna Kamal) and Best Short Documentary at the 13th International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala, with distribution on MUBI and Kinoscope. He is also a recipient of the President’s Award for Global Learning, the Austin Film Society Grant, and the Panavision New Filmmaker Program Grant.
CREATIVE PRODUCER — SRI CHILUKURI
Sri is a South Asian producer and actor, originally from India and raised in Dallas, TX. With a lifelong passion for the arts, he has cultivated a diverse career in both English and Telugu productions across stage and screen. Trained in acting with techniques ranging from Stanislavski to Eastern theater philosophies, Sri has recently transitioned into producing. He notably produced SMOKE CHEYYAKU BRO, which won Best Texas Short at the 2024 Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF).
PRODUCER — MALLIK GONEPALLEI
Mallik is a rising film producer with a passion for bringing fresh, original stories to the screen. Recently entering the film industry, Mallik is focused on producing films that explore innovative storytelling and social impact.
With a strong foundation in media, he has quickly gained experience working on a range of projects and collaborating with talented filmmakers to create compelling content.
IMPACT PRODUCER — MARK RAGUNTON
Mark Ragunton, a Filipino-American filmmaker based in Dallas, TX, combines his engineering expertise and passion for social impact to create films that drive change. With over 30 narrative projects and recognition at festivals like the Oscar Micheaux Black Film Festival, he is a seasoned storyteller and advocate for inclusivity, collaborating with filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. As an Impact Producer for FILMS MAKE CHANGE, Mark merges narrative filmmaking with philanthropy, highlighting the medium's power to inspire social progress.
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Exciting news! Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve reached our $15,000 crowdfunding goal! Now, we’re aiming even higher with stretch goals to make this project the best it can be. Every contribution helps us push Jati even further. Thank you for being part of this journey!
Stretch Goal #1: $1,500 for Music
A compelling soundtrack will elevate the emotional impact of our film.
Stretch Goal #2: $1,500 for Sound Design
Detailed, immersive sound will bring the world of our story to life.
Stretch Goal #3: $1,000 for Color Grading
Professional color grading will ensure the visuals are as powerful as the story itself.
JATI is a powerful 20-minute U.S. drama, set in Texas, that explores the caste system through an Indian narrative, highlighting its presence and impact beyond the borders of India. The film delves into themes of love, control, and the repercussions of challenging societal boundaries, prompting viewers to examine the invisible walls that divide us. The story centers on Amulya, who comes from a dominant-caste family, and Vinay, who comes from an oppressed-caste. They visit her parents in the U.S. to seek her father Sampath’s approval for their marriage. Their arrival ignites tension, particularly with Amulya’s mother, Vani, who opposes inter-caste unions—a stance also shared by her sister Shwetha and brother-in-law Mohan.
During an uneasy dinner, Vinay’s attempts to win Sampath’s approval are met with caste-based humiliation, pushing Vinay to the brink and leading him to reveal a deeply personal secret in a moment of desperation. Sampath’s furious reaction results in Vinay being expelled from the house, leaving Amulya devastated.
In the days that follow, Amulya’s attempts to reason with her father grow increasingly volatile. Torn between her family’s expectations and her own desires, Amulya is forced to make an agonizing decision, leaving the audience to question whether she will break free from tradition or remain bound by it.
CONCEPT AND THEME
JĀTI explores the complexities of inter-caste marriage, revealing the emotional turmoil that arises when love collides with cultural beliefs. The film examines the struggle for identity and acceptance within families rooted in tradition, offering a look at the consequences of challenging established norms. As the younger generation seeks progress and freedom, their clash with the values of their elders intensifies, leading to a confrontation that forces them to choose between love and family loyalty. Through this narrative, JĀTI not only tells a story of conflict but also prompts reflection on caste, identity, and the cost of breaking societal boundaries.
CONFLICTS EXPLORED
THE BEGINNING — CULTURAL CONFLICTS
SAMPATH and VANI—dominant-caste parents visiting the U.S. to support their eldest daughter as she prepares to give birth—find themselves in an unexpected situation when their younger daughter, AMULYA, introduces her boyfriend, VINAY, a man from an oppressed-caste.
The film captures the initial tension when Amulya and Vinay arrive at her parents’ home. Vani’s disapproval of their inter-caste relationship sets the stage for the conflict that follows. Sampath’s position as a respected politician and upholder of caste traditions adds complexity, especially since his influence extends beyond their family to a broader community in India.
THE MIDDLE — MAIN CONFLICT
The story intensifies over a family dinner where Vinay gathers the courage to ask Sampath for his approval to marry Amulya. What begins as a plea spirals into a confrontation when Sampath’s caste biases surface. His contempt for Vinay’s background leads to a verbal clash that leaves Vinay humiliated. Vinay’s exit leaves Amulya emotionally torn, trapped between her love for Vinay and her loyalty to her family.
As the evening disintegrates, each family member wrestles with their own struggles caught between opposing sides, and Vani, torn between supporting her husband’s values and her daughter’s happiness.
THE CLIMAX — EMOTIONAL FALLOUT
The aftermath of the confrontation is filled with intensity. Amulya is forced to confront her own beliefs about tradition, while the weight of her family’s expectations pushes her toward a breaking point. Sampath’s unyielding grip on his values leads him to make a hard-hitting choice that risks tearing his family apart.
Vinay’s determination to gain acceptance is shaken, but his love for Amulya and the hope for a future keeps him fighting, even if it means facing deeply rooted societal biases.
WHY THIS FILMS MATTERS
JĀTI is not just about caste—it’s about the human emotions tied to cultural and familial expectations. The film highlights the real decisions people must make when personal love collides with tradition. It resonates with anyone who has had to confront their identity, fight for acceptance, or face family disapproval. And it’s a story that transcends borders, exploring how old-world values continue to influence the present.
WHAT SET THIS CASTE-BASED FILM APART?
What distinguishes JĀTI from other films on caste is its portrayal of each character's internal struggle, set in the USA, and its commentary on the caste system and its propagation beyond the borders of India.
- Vinay, caught between his desire for love and the harsh reality of his caste, faces a constant battle to prove his worthiness, not just to his partner's family but to a society that has long relegated him to the margins.
- Amulya’s dominant-caste privilege allows her to navigate the situation differently from Vinay, who comes from a marginalized Dalit background, where every decision is weighed against a lifetime of discrimination and societal barriers.
- Vani, as a mother, must reconcile her love for her daughters with her commitment to family traditions.
- Meanwhile, Sampath’s adherence to caste boundaries complicates his role as both a father and a political figure, adding a societal layer to the personal conflict.
By exploring these perspectives, the film brings depth to the exploration of caste, making it both intimate and profound.
CHARACTERS
Amulya is in love with Vinay, whom she met in college. With a master's degree and a business analyst job in the U.S., she benefits from her dominant-caste background, which provided her with education and opportunities. Her calm demeanor, traditional values, and beauty reflect her upbringing.
Vinay is from a Dalit background in Telangana. Through reservation, he overcame caste-related and financial challenges to earn a Master's degree in the U.S. Now a civil engineer, his sincerity and honesty shine. Vinay hopes his achievements will win Sampath's approval, showing his success despite his oppressed-caste background.
Vani is Amulya's mother and is torn between supporting Amulya and her beliefs against inter-caste marriage. Her husband's dominant-caste pride and biases add to her stress. Trapped in a patriarchal family, she hopes for a resolution but doubts Sampath will accept Vinay, reflecting the pressures she faces.
Sampath is Amulya's father and is a staunch supporter of India's ruling party and a firm believer in the importance of same-caste marriages. He sees his values as a way to preserve cultural heritage and social order. His patriarchal views can seem condescending, but he believes he acts in his family's and community's best interests.
BUDGET & TIMELINE
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
JĀTI is a film about love, control, and the social boundaries we create. Inspired by real events like the tragic honor killing of Amrutha and Pranay in Hyderabad in 2018, the film confronts viewers with the harsh realities of caste prejudice that persist, even among families who have moved beyond the borders of India. The story’s central question is timeless: can love survive when weighed down by the heavy hand of tradition? By using the medium of fiction, I aim to spark conversations around the nature of inter-caste marriages and the deep-seated cultural biases that remain unchallenged. Through Amulya and Vinay’s journey, I hope to inspire introspection and dialogue about the value of love, and whether it can be truly wise if it comes at the cost of personal and familial destruction.
— Sarthwik Bollu
“The only dream worth having is to dream that you will live while you are alive, and die only when you are dead. To love, to be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of the life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”
― Arundhati Roy, The Cost of Living
“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
― Bhīmrāo Rāmjī Āmbēḍkar
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
About This Team
DIRECTOR & WRITER — SARTHWIK BOLLU
Sarthwik's passion for filmmaking was ignited during a high school reading of The Hound of the Baskervilles, where he discovered cinema’s profound emotional impact. Coming from a working-class background, he pursued filmmaking without formal film school training. His short film THE ROAD NOT TAKEN, inspired by Kafka and Frost, won the "Best Audience Choice Award" as a runner-up at the 2024 Indie Meme Film Festival, highlighting his skill in merging deep storytelling with compelling visuals. His latest project, ORGANIZIZED, a dark-humor film, is nearing completion and set to captivate audiences.
CREATIVE PRODUCER — SACHIN DHEERAJ
Sachin is an award-winning filmmaker with an MFA in Film & Media Production from The University of Texas at Austin. His work has been showcased at prestigious festivals such as Hot Docs, Raindance, and EnergaCAMERIMAGE. Specializing in preserving vanishing communities, his pre-thesis film, TESTIMONY OF ANA, won the National Film Award (Swarna Kamal) and Best Short Documentary at the 13th International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala, with distribution on MUBI and Kinoscope. He is also a recipient of the President’s Award for Global Learning, the Austin Film Society Grant, and the Panavision New Filmmaker Program Grant.
CREATIVE PRODUCER — SRI CHILUKURI
Sri is a South Asian producer and actor, originally from India and raised in Dallas, TX. With a lifelong passion for the arts, he has cultivated a diverse career in both English and Telugu productions across stage and screen. Trained in acting with techniques ranging from Stanislavski to Eastern theater philosophies, Sri has recently transitioned into producing. He notably produced SMOKE CHEYYAKU BRO, which won Best Texas Short at the 2024 Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF).
PRODUCER — MALLIK GONEPALLEI
Mallik is a rising film producer with a passion for bringing fresh, original stories to the screen. Recently entering the film industry, Mallik is focused on producing films that explore innovative storytelling and social impact.
With a strong foundation in media, he has quickly gained experience working on a range of projects and collaborating with talented filmmakers to create compelling content.
IMPACT PRODUCER — MARK RAGUNTON
Mark Ragunton, a Filipino-American filmmaker based in Dallas, TX, combines his engineering expertise and passion for social impact to create films that drive change. With over 30 narrative projects and recognition at festivals like the Oscar Micheaux Black Film Festival, he is a seasoned storyteller and advocate for inclusivity, collaborating with filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. As an Impact Producer for FILMS MAKE CHANGE, Mark merges narrative filmmaking with philanthropy, highlighting the medium's power to inspire social progress.