— I am Shyama Sundar Majhi, the Director of the Short Film KUKLI. Basically, I possess an engineering background and I belong from a technical profession. I am employed with a PSU of India for the past 27 years. Neither did I have studied in the film institution nor have attended any film making workshop in my life. Still then, I have directed "BIN GIRA PERA", a Santali music video album in the year 2015 which included seven songs. In the year 2018, I have worked as a story writer, lyricist, and director for a Santali feature film "SABARNAKA SURUBALI". In the year 2019, I have worked as a writer and director in a short Santali film titled "KUKLI". All these projects are made under the banner of MM PRODUCTION.

— Actually, I belong from the Santal community, which is an Indigenous Community of India. I have started filmmaking with the motto of "Pay back to society". The story of my film is picturized on an underprivileged little girl who to descends the same indigenous Santal Community. I'm very well acquainted with the grass-root reality of my community. Through this film, I have tried to show the world about the Santali culture, tradition, social system, the pain, and suffering of my Community.
I have always tried to produce good quality productions and contents that will directly or indirectly support the overall growth of the Santal Social System and promote the Santali language, literature, culture, and tradition worldwide.

— In my film KUKLI, in addition to Direction, I have worked in Story, Screenplay, Dialogue, and Artwork. When I shared the story of my film with the Producer, she appreciated my concept a lot. Because of the budget, she was not having that much confidence to start the production work. So I started thinking about alternate solutions to support her in managing the financial aspects. In addition to "Home Studio" for post-production work, her production house was having all types of shooting equipments including camera, light, and sound. I suggested her to hire such a technical person who will manage the role of DOP and can deal with the total post-production work. Additionally, I took the challenge and I supported her in the following way. I have cast not a single trained artist for my film KUKLI. Almost everybody was from my village and most of them were my family members and relatives. All of them have been paid just a token amount to honor their dedication, hard work, co-operation, and teamwork. Working with a child artist who has never been professionally trained, is really a very tough task for the Director. In my film, the main character is a little girl child who knew nothing about acting and of course film shooting. That was a big challenge for me on how to get the work done effectively and efficiently. The hard work of my team has reflected on the success of our film "KUKLI". Till now my film has won 67 National and International Awards out of 83 officials selected film festivals across 13 countries. It is not a matter of awards, but it is sure that my film is successfully highlighting a strong social message on humanity, anti-war, pain, and suffering of the tribal lives even in present India.

My journey in the field of film making may be summarized as below:

"My childhood hobby has become an addiction.
The spark in addiction has resulted in passion.
Though my passion isn't related to my profession,
But my mission has silently enriched my vision".

— The child artist Dibyajyoti Marndi, who played the main role in KUKLI, had entertained the total production team during the shooting. She was very funny in the out of the frame. Every time when the cameraman was busy arranging the setup for the camera, and I myself was busy in arranging the artwork of the plot, she was running away to a nearby area where other children of her age group were engaged in playing! Though we had wasted some time searching for her, which was a part of refreshment for entire team members.

— Oh!!... Really, that's a tough question!
Like all others, I do have also a dream. But my dream has no limits. I want to represent my Santal community and want to promote the Santali language, literature, culture, and tradition worldwide through the language of cinema. And one day I want to see my name on the list of the winners of Oscar!

— Captain Phillips: An American biographical drama-thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass.

— In my view, if you do not know filmmaking, it is better not to start the work casually. If you are really serious about filmmaking, try to understand all the works related to filmmaking process, be familiar with that and get the basic training if possible. Try to make a team of good and likeminded people. You should have good connection with brilliant and experts in filmmaking who can guide you anytime as per your requirement. Before starting the work, think about the huddles and challenges that you may face during execution of work and be prepared to face those situations. After all your creativity matters a lot and you must work with the passion. Thank you.