HIV Stain - The Urgency To Create, Inspire & Change: Umesh Kulkarni

Growing up, I was all about creativity – music, painting, crafts – you name it. But becoming a filmmaker? Nah, that wasn't really on my radar. Then, fate stepped in, and I met Sumitra Bave and Sunil Sukthankar, two incredible filmmakers from Pune. Assisting them on a project changed the game for me. With all its creativity and challenges, the film-making process just hooked me.

However, none of my family members have a film background. But they were supportive of my aspirations. So, off I went to study direction at FTII, Pune. And you know, some of my film college projects were screened at international festivals! That's where I fell head over heels for short films – there's something raw and impactful about them. My diploma short film, "Girni," even bagged a national award!

After FTII, my buddy Girish and I started our own company, making feature films. One of our projects, "Valu," was a massive hit in Marathi Cinema. But you know what? Short films still hold a special place in my heart. They let you bring your ideas to life without worrying much about the budget.

And speaking of short films, I run this workshop called 'Shoot a Short.' I usually do it in Pune. But I've conducted it in other cities and countries. It's all about sharing my passion for short film-making with others.

Now, onto my latest project, "U=ME." It's a short film tackling the stigma surrounding HIV. The inspiration came from Dr. Sanjay Pujari, who's been working on infectious diseases for ages. Collaborating with him brought a whole new level of authenticity to the story.

And here's the special part: "U=ME" is also a tribute to Sumitra Ma'am, who sadly passed away during COVID-19. She was a powerhouse when it came to making films about social issues, and I wanted to carry on her legacy.

Working on "U=ME" was an absolute blast. I roped in my buddy Arjun and had to get Shweta on board as I liked her work. When I approached her, she had already watched and enjoyed my work. So, she said yes immediately. Although U=ME isn’t a big-budget film. But she has supported us immensely in all the ways possible. The talent she has, I don’t think I need to talk about her work in the film.

Instead of approaching any OTT channels, we released "U=ME" on YouTube through Humara Movie. We wanted to reach as many people as possible and start a conversation about HIV stigma.

So, there you have it – my journey into film-making and the story behind "U=ME." I'm just grateful to be able to do what I love and make a difference while I'm at it. And I request you to watch this vital short film and help us spread the word about the stigma of HIV.

We’re glad to partner with Humara Movie. They release a short film every week. And we feature the story of someone behind the film. After all, everyone has a story.

Delhi Stories is an emerging platform to feature inspirational, motivational, relatable and beautiful stories. Do you also have an interesting story like Umesh Kulkarni?