The day I learned that Little Wings had won Best Cinematography (Non-Feature) at the 71st Indian National Film Awards is one I’ll never forget. I was in Mexico, about to jump into a cenote for the first time — despite being afraid of deep water. That day became a milestone of two leaps of faith: diving into that cenote and receiving the news that our little film had achieved what once felt like an impossible dream. Both moments reminded me that the biggest rewards often come from taking risks, trusting the process, and holding onto belief even when you’re unsure of the outcome. This recognition — the first-ever Tamil film to win in this category in the award’s history — affirmed not only the artistic vision behind the film but also the broader mission of my company, Viewfinder Film Productions (VFP): to discover, nurture, and amplify South Asian voices in global cinema.
My path to producing wasn’t a straight line. After completing my MBA at McMaster, I joined the Toronto International Film Festival, where I worked in marketing and financial analysis while also helping with South Asian programming — an extension of my reputation as a South Indian cinema critic and columnist. That role gave me a front-row seat to global cinema and, importantly, introduced me to filmmakers who would change my life. I went on to collaborate with acclaimed South Indian directors like M. Manikandan, Vetrimaran, Chezhiyan, and Raam, even moving to India to work on productions and consult for studios. Those years cemented what I already felt deeply: independent South Asian filmmakers have immense talent, but sometimes need support to travel internationally and connect with wider audiences.
That realization was the seed for VFP, which officially began in 2016. At first, I focused on consulting: helping films travel internationally, secure festival slots, or land on international streaming platforms. Over time, though, I felt pulled to do more than help films cross borders — I wanted to help filmmakers themselves get their start. In late 2018, I launched the “Iyackuddy Rabindran Short Film Fund”, named after my late father. He was my biggest cheerleader, the person I loved most to discuss cinema with, and I wanted his memory to fuel opportunities for the next generation. That fund ended up being the catalyst for my first productions - Theetu (Untouchability), Small Wishes, and ultimately, Little Wings.
Little Wings was where everything came together. I met its director, Naveen Mu, through the fund, and what began as one script submission in late 2020 turned into a creative partnership that’s been going strong for almost 5 years. We worked through pandemic delays, filmed in 2021 and completed the film in 2022. Then Naveen & I earnestly applied to festival after festival, touring the film throughout the world and earning several accolades along the way, in 2023. Then, we jumped through several hoops to qualify the film for consideration for National Film Awards in 2024, and finally we received a win, honouring the work of our film’s outstanding cinematography by the late Saravanamaruthu Soundarapandi & Meenakshi Soman, in 2025. That timeline taught me something I think every producer eventually learns: films have their own clock, and you can’t rush them. Patience was key, and in the end, it paid off in ways we truly dreamt it would.
Little Wings was an independent project, powered by a modest budget, that was made special by the work of a passionate director who led a talented, emerging crew. Then together, we collaborated with established names in Tamil cinema - like co-producer Rajumurugan, editor Philomin Raj, music director Santhosh Dhayanidi - who saw promise in Naveen’s vision and in my strategic capabilities, and helped us create a final product that captured diverse audiences. That we won a National Award — and made history as the first Tamil film to do so in this category — is a testament to this teamwork.
At the heart of VFP’s work is this belief: that South Asian filmmakers, whether in Toronto, Chennai, or anywhere in the diaspora, deserve platforms to share their voices. We are not just building films; we are building bridges — connecting artists across geographies, sharing knowledge across generations, and creating opportunities for new voices to take root in an industry that can be intimidating to break into. I’ll continue chasing the stories I believe in, while opening the door for others to do the same.
And to any emerging filmmaker reading this, I want to say: be patient, and stay true to your passion. The recognition won’t always come quickly, but it will come if you keep going.
