It took her 10 years to win the Filmfare. And she’s only 24.

Priyanka Banerjee shares with us how her creative journey has been so far and what she dreams of becoming post this feat…

“I won the Filmfare award but I don’t keep it in my room. I’m glad it’s with our producer, Ryan Stephen who I was so honoured to work with. In a way, I’m glad it’s not with me because I’ll look at it sitting on my shelf and start taking it easy. I’ll feel I’ve achieved something great and it’s okay to sit back and relax. I don’t want that and I want to continue moving forward”. Priyanka shared with us what it was like winning the Best Short Film for the critically acclaimed ‘Devi’ at the young age of 24 and how she looks at her work moving forward.

A lot of us tend to approach our goals in different ways and this method works for her. We all achieve some sort of success and when that happens, a phase of stagnation seeps in. When she shared her story at BHX Goa in April, every resident resonated with the thought that it is so important to keep moving forward no matter where we reach. A goal is a goal until you achieve it.

Banerjee gives us her signature wide smile as Kshetej beautifully captures her at the residency.

Winning the award has opened a number of doors for her and she has her eyes on a larger goal that pushes her limits: to make a name for herself in the industry, not going by the cliche but a name to reckon with, a name every producer will be ready to work with hands down.

During our residency, she shared with us how it all began, what drives her and how she goes about her creative processes.

Many might think that she has received a lot of success earlier on in her career but little do they know that this firecracker has been working since she was 14 — doing multiple internships that her mother would sign her up for. “An idle mind is a devil’s workshop”, she would tell her, and it was a serene evening at BHX Goa when she realised she had been hustling for the last 10 years. A decade in the industry. That’s no easy feat. “I’ve actually been at it for 10 years since I was 14… Learning, growing, subconsciously consuming stories that people told me! And every experience has taught me something I can use in my work in one way or the other.” She beamed as she said it.

Out of the countless conversations we’ve had sitting near the pool, she shared with us how important it was for her to start early in life and how young minds need to be encouraged to go ahead and find what they’re passionate about, what drives them crazy (in a good productive way of course). Interning during her summer vacations, she realised she could never do a desk job and said…

“It’s always so important to try out various roles from a young age and cross off things from your list that you absolutely do not like. That’s when you find out what you love. When you find that, it’ll push you harder to get better every single day. No matter where you come from or what stream you choose, hard work is non-negotiable.”

This masterpiece won the Best Short Film at Filmfare Awards 2021.

Apart from her strong work ethic and this backbone of a mindset, Priyanka mentioned “I love watching films, and not to critique them as many do, but to actually feel them” and that method has helped her fuel her fire to make films that really stir up emotions. Devi, her short film that won the award, was a testament to how deeply she feels, and how she wanted to convey her thoughts through a gut-wrenching, hard-hitting, yet innovative story.

The film addressed a mammoth of a human rights issue that India has: rape. She believes it is very important to talk about topics that drive change through the art of storytelling. A story has the power to change perspective, bend minds and urge people to face harsh realities. That’s what can cause real change: when it comes from within and when it comes from emotion.

Something she spoke really struck a chord with us -

“As creators, we always hold really high standards for our work when we watch others’ work. We mustn’t let those standards paralyse us. In fact, it should fuel us.”

As a community of misfits, pathbreakers and changemakers, we must realise our worth. It is so very important to appreciate and support others without comparing ourselves to them. No two journeys are the same and can never be the same.

To know more about her work and her story, reach out to her at @priyankabans

And here’s the link to Devi, the short film that helped her lift the prestigious black lady: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KP0aDTVtFI