Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri

Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri is an Indian-Canadian-British award-winning director and photographer.

Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri
Born 1983
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Education Princeton University (Anthropology)
Occupation Film director, Photographer, Writer, Producer, Speaker

She is described as a "rad feminist director and fashion photographer" by Julianne E. Shepherd of Jezebel.[1] Known by a single name, Indrani is "renowned for her iconic imagery and visionary storytelling, collaborations with Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, and Kanye West" according to Shinjini Das of Huffington Post.[2] Her work was discovered by David Bowie who commissioned her first album cover for "Heathen"[3][4] and later Bowie launched her directorial career, commissioning her first major music video, for his song "Valentine's Day" on his album The Next Day.[5] Now known as a young director of films that have won 25 awards, with a passion for social justice and women's empowerment, "Wielding her visionary work like a weapon, Indrani is using her art and resources for social justice and change."[6]

Early life, modeling career

Indrani was born in Kolkata, India in 1983, raised in the historic palace of her Zamindar family, and accompanied her British mother as a volunteer with Mother Teresa.[7] Both her parents were accountants.[8] She witnessed "the devastating poverty that stood in stark contrast to her own childhood," which motivated her to someday make a difference in the area.[8]

Indrani began modeling at 14, in order to study photography and film with artists around the world, and became a rising star.[9] Her experience as a successful model / actress became a window of cultural perspective as her career took her all over the world.[10] At 18, she returned to turn her family home into a charitable school, to give girls a better future.[8][11] The school was named Shakti Empowerment Education and currently educates around 300 youth, both girls and boys and provides women with literacy and vocational training.[7]

After high school, Indrani met Markus Klinko, a classical harpist, and the two began their photography careers as a creative duo. Indrani received a scholarship to Princeton University. While advancing her career as a photographer, she reinstated the study of Sanskrit, spearheaded the student initiative to create a program in South Asian Studies, and graduated with a magna cum laude (with High Honors) AB in Cultural Anthropology.[12]

According to Fast Company, "When Markus Klinko and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri teamed up...both were already stars--Klinko as a classical harpist and Indrani as a fashion model. Now they are famous for their iconic images of celebrities...and advertising projects." [9]

Photography career

While Indrani was a student at Princeton University, David Bowie and Iman discovered her work and commissioned her first album cover for Heathen and I am Iman with Klinko. Indrani's fashion work was discovered by Isabella Blow, a "renowned style icon who discovered some of the fashion world's most important figures,"[13] who commissioned cover stories for the London Sunday Times.[7] Around the same time, Ingrid Sischy, at Interview magazine commissioned various shoots. Indrani credits Blow, Bowie and Iman for teaching her to push her creative boundaries.[14] Indrani created award-winning covers for Beyoncé's solo debut Dangerously in Love, Mariah Carey's Emancipation of Mimi and Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough[15] among others.

Indrani's work has been published in over 25 books and shown in over 20 exhibitions,[16] such as the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC in 2013, "Dancing the Dream".[17] In 2013 the Lincoln Center presented a week-long 30-piece public art exhibition Icons, to accompany the release of the photobook, Icons: The celebrity exposures of Markus and Indrani, published by Perseus Press.[18] Icons is described as the product of 18 years as "a visionary tour de force" by Katie Amey for Elle;[19] and "High-concept and hyperrealism commingle" by Kimberley Jones for the Austin Chronicle.[20]

An exhibition at the Pacific Design Center LA was presented by the Lucie Foundation in concert with the Month of Photography Los Angeles and the Farmani Gallery,[21] and the Icons Exhibition of her work was presented by The Angel Orensanz Foundation for Contemporary Art NY and Bravo TV to celebrate "Double Exposure" on 16 June 2010.[22]

Directing career

Indrani has won acclaim as a director, cinematographer and producer of films and commercials.[7] Her video and stills campaign with TBWA-Chiat-Day for Keep a Child Alive against AIDS in India and Africa won two gold lions at Cannes.[23] Indrani directed a short documentary for PSI and the UN's Nothing But Nets featuring ambassador actress Mandy Moore.[24] She directed The Girl Epidemic to raise awareness of female infanticide[25] for Project Nanhi Kali with ad agency Strawberry Frog. Described by the Huffington Post's Katherine Brooks as "powerful" and by Scott Goodson for Forbes: "brilliant and provocative!"[26] Her short "Crescendo," curated by Pepsi's Beats of the Beautiful Game, uses football to empower girls in India and is described by Julianne Shepherd of Jezebel as a "Rad Feminist Short Film...A jubilant, sweet clip...(with) an underlying feminist message"[27] and by Katherine Brooks of The Huffington Post as "Photographer uses football to empower girls in India"[28] in partnership with nonprofits Sambhali Trust, Yuwa, and SEEschool.

In 2013 Indrani directed David Bowie's "Valentine's Day" video, about which Eric Danton of Rolling Stone says Bowie "radiates intensity"[29] and Robin Hilton of NPR says "it is thrilling and intense"[30] and Louise Sanders of The Daily Mail calls "Dazzling."[31] Described by Michael Bonner in The Uncut as "Indrani's video. It is compelling. I think she captured something about him - and the story around how she die it is quite interesting." Indrani's work and interviews are featured in the HBO / BBC Film "David Bowie: The Last Five Years.

Indrani directed a music video for Alicia Keys' "New Day" described as "bold and high-energy" by Jenna Rubenstein for MTV,[32] as well as music videos for Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey.

"The Legend of Lady White Snake" short film was written and directed by Indrani, inspired by an ancient Chinese story, with a poem by Neil Gaiman, "The Hidden Chamber" [33] starring "fashion icon and brewery fortune heiress"[34] Daphne Guinness in costumes by GK Reid and Alexander McQueen.[18]

"Till Human Voices Wake Us", a short film produced by Rick Schwartz (Black Swan, Gangs of New York), was written and directed by Indrani, creative directed and executive produced by GK Reid, and stars Lindsay Lohan and a dozen new actresses the team discovered through a large talent search. A dream within a dream, of Selkies, mythical creatures that are women on land and seals in water, the film reminds viewers of the magic and mysteries of the creatures of the sea, and is a plea for sustainability of the oceans.÷[35]

For "Girl Rising, India" a feature-length film for girls' empowerment, Indrani directed the Bollywood stars Freida Pinto, Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Nandita Das Priyanka Chopra Sushmita Sen and Madhuri Dixit for the original Indian content, with a video and photo campaign which she also shot, that trended on Twitter when released on 29 August 2015, and became part of the Indian government's campaign Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (translation: Save girl child, educate a girl child).[2][36]

Films which Indrani has directed and produced have won numerous awards including first prize in four categories at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival 2015 for "Best Picture," "Best Visual Effects," "Best Costumes" and "Best Production Design"; "Best Film," "Best Director" and "Best Design" at the London Fashion Film Festival 2015, "Best of Festival" at the Princeton Film Festival, 2015, "Best Film" at the International Fashion Film Festival Los Angeles 2015, first prize in the top four categories at the International Fashion Film Festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, including "Best Film," "Best Director," "Best Fashion," "Best Special Effects" and the RED Camera Award,[37] have screened at the Milan Fashion Film Festival and the Los Angeles Short Film Festival 2015 [38]

Awards

  • "Best Film" at the CNN Expose Film Awards, presented by Quincy Jones, 2018.
  • "Inspirique: Circle of Light" Award at the Harvard University 2018 Global Forum.
  • "Best Director" at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, 2016.
  • "Best Director" at the London Fashion Film Festival, 2016.
  • "Best of New York" at the New York Short Film Festival, 2016.
  • "Best Picture," "Best Production Design," "Best Costume Design" and "Best Visual Effects" at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, 2016.
  • "Best Film," "Best Director" and "Best Accessories Design" at the London Fashion Film Festival, 2016.
  • "Best Film" and was nominated for "Best Director" at the International Fashion Film Festival at Cinemoi in Los Angeles, 2015.
  • "Best of Festival" at the Princeton University Film Festival, 2015.
  • Opening Night screening at the Los Angeles Short Film Festival, 2015.
  • Screened at the Milan Fashion Film Festival, Italy, 2015.
  • Screened at ASVOFF at the Center Pompidou, Paris, 2015.
  • Screened at ASVOFF at the Center Pompidou, Paris, 2013.
  • "Best Picture," "Best Director," "Best Costume Design," "Best Visual Effects" and the "RED Epic Camera Award" at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, La Jolla Fashion Film Festival.
  • Two Gold Lions at Cannes Festival of Creativity for "Digital Death" for Keep A Child Alive /TBWA NY.
  • "Exceptional Achievement Elite Award" by South Asia Magazine.
  • Markus and Indrani won "Best of Show" at Lucie Awards International Photography Awards, 2007
  • Alex Award for Beyonce's "Dangerously in Love" album cover, 2004
  • Glamour Magazine's "Top 10 College Women Award" 2001

TV series and media

Indrani, Klinko, and creative director GK Reid were the subjects of Bravo reality show called Double Exposure[39] documenting their photo shoots from initial thought to hard copy.[40][41] According to Troy Patterson of Slate, "Themes include the aesthetics of desire, the symbiosis of artist and muse."[42] The show is described by Zoë Ruderman as "like America's Next Top Model and Project Runway mixed together and on speed."[43]

Created in the US for the Bravo network, Double Exposure has been syndicated in over a hundred countries.[44][45]

Indrani has been a guest on America's Next Top Model, Make Me a Supermodel, and was interviewed for E! News, Access Hollywood, Fashion Television, CNN's Showbiz Tonight and Larry King Live.[46]

Philanthropy

At the age of 18, Indrani founded Shakti Empowerment Education otherwise known as SEEschool.org,[7][44] turning her family's palace into a school for poor kids. The school provides free education to 300 impoverished children in her native Kolkata, India, with an emphasis on the rights of girls.[7][47][n 1] "She is in charge of fundraising, advertising, and development."[24] Pesta of The Daily Beast says "Indrani changes the fate of forgotten girls...and is fighting to give girls a better future."[44] Shinjini Das of the Huffington Post wrote that "Indrani is internationally recognized for her extensive work on social causes and her video and stills campaigns."[2]

Indrani was Special Advisor to the UNGMDF World Fashion Forum [48] and Director of Relations at the UN World Film Forum 2013-2015.[28][36]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Watch this Rad Feminist Short Film of Girls Playing Soccer in Jodhpur http://jezebel.com/watch-this-rad-feminist-short-film-of-girls-playing-soc-1639677259
  2. 1 2 3 "I Am Girl Rising". The Huffington Post.
  3. ↑ ICONS by Markus + Indrani" Running Press © 2012
  4. ↑ "Markus and Indrani ICONS book". David Bowie Official Website.
  5. ↑ Wera Engelhardt, "'Ich verdanke ihm meine Karriere': Fotografin nimmt Abschied von ihrem Mentor", Focus, 11 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Zee Chang, , Soma Magazine, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Abigail Pesta, "A fashionista’s India dream: Indrani changes the fate of forgotten girls", Daily Beast, 7 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Pesta, Abigail (2012-07-10). "A Fashionista's India Dream: Indrani Changes the Fate of Forgotten Girls". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
  9. 1 2 "Contributors". Fast Company.
  10. ↑ http://www.somamagazine.com/indrani-pal-chaudhuri/
  11. ↑ Eyestrane, "Diwali goddess Indrani", Asiance, 29 September 2011.
  12. ↑ Wang, Angela (2014-02-05). "From Beyonce to Bravo: Pal-Chaudhuri balances Hollywood with Socially Minded Art". The Daily Princetonian-date=2017-04-17.
  13. ↑ Polly Dunbar, "They blamed me for her suicide: Style icon Isabella Blow's husband tells how he was snubbed at her funeral after she poisoned herself with weedkiller - even though she had tried to kill herself seven times", Mail Online, 16 June 2012.
  14. ↑ Lindsay Sakraida, "Behind the scenes of 'Double Exposure'", popphoto.com, 16 December 2009.
  15. ↑ "Markus Klinko and Indrani: Stars and fashion icons", Art Photo Expo.
  16. ↑ "From Beyoncé to Bravo: Pal-Chaudhuri ’01 balances Hollywood with 'socially minded' art." Daily Princetonian, Angela Wang 5 February 2014,
  17. ↑ "Dancing the dream: Beyoncé born 1981", Smithsonian Institution.
  18. 1 2 Natalie Stone, "Hollywood photographers Markus+Indrani release 'Icons' portrait book", Hollywood Reporter, 6 November 2012.
  19. ↑ Katie Amey, "Exclusive: celebrity photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani debut their first book Icons", Elle, 7 November 2012.
  20. ↑ Kimberley Jones, "Coffee table iconoclasts; oversized books and outsized personalities" Austin Chronicle, 30 November 2012.
  21. ↑ Erin Clark, "Month of photography L.A.: Markus Klinko and Indrani", artworksmagazine.com, 23 April 2009.
  22. ↑ Entertainment MSN.com
  23. ↑ "Digital death", canneslions.com; accessed by the Wayback Machine on 11 July 2011.
  24. 1 2 Katherine Federici Greenwood, "Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri '01: Celebrity photographer", Princeton Alumni Weekly, 27 October 2010.
  25. ↑ "The Girl Epidemic (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post.
  26. ↑ Scott Goodson "Should they ban The Girl Epidemic?" of Forbes, 2 June 2012.
  27. ↑ Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "Watch This Rad Feminist Short Film of Girls Playing Soccer in Jodhpur". Jezebel.
  28. 1 2 "Kolkata-Born Photographer Uses Football To Empower Girls In India". The Huffington Post.
  29. ↑ Eric R Danton "David Bowie radiates intensity in 'Valentine's Day'", Rolling Stone, 16 July 2013.
  30. ↑ Robin Hilton "NPR Music," 16 July 2013.
  31. ↑ "David Bowie releases stripped-down video for new track Valentine's Day... after controversy over his depiction as Christ - Daily Mail Online". Mail Online.
  32. ↑ Jenna Hally Rubenstein, "New video: Alicia Keys, ‘New Day’", mtv.com, 1 May 2013.
  33. ↑ Cator Sparks, "Do it Daphne! Guinness shines in short film based on ancient Chinese legend", Huffington Post, 4 March 2012.
  34. ↑ Jacki Lyden, "Daphne Guinness: An icon on fashion’s cutting edge", National Public Radio, 13 November 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  35. ↑ <meta itemprop='name' content='Viva Today Staff' />. "Till Human Voices Wake Us". Viva Today.
  36. 1 2 "Bengali girl directs Priyanka Chopra's 'Girl Rising' film". The Times of India.
  37. ↑ Pesta, Abigail (24 November 2012). "Shooting the Stars With Fashion Photographers Markus and Indrani". The Daily Beast.
  38. ↑ "Ranaghat girl's short with Lindsay Lohan to be screened at LA fest". The Times of India.
  39. ↑ "Showbiz tonight: Defending Mel Gibson; Sandra Bullock's new battle; Brangelina's marriage bombshell; Paul the octopus retires", CNN.
  40. ↑ "It takes two! We pick our favorite photographic duos", Nowness, 23 June 2010.
  41. ↑ Tim Nudd, "Rachel Zoe and Kelly Cutrone make reality TV stylish", TV Watch, 11 January 2010.
  42. ↑ Troy Patterson, "Strike a pose", Slate Magazine, 23 June 2010
  43. ↑ Zoe Ruderman, "The hot show to watch tonight", Cosmopolitan, 15 June 2010.
  44. 1 2 3 Double Exposure, FoxLife. (in Portuguese)
  45. ↑ "Double Exposure", BeTV. Accessed by the Wayback Machine on 3 June 2013.
  46. ↑ Terri Schwartz, "Lindsay Lohan's father, friends protest jail time on 'Larry King Live'", mtv.com, 20 July 2010.
  47. ↑ Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick, "'Double Exposure' stars Markus Klinko and Indrani on Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, and Photoshop", Stylelist.com, 15 June 2010. Accessed by the Wayback Machine on 21 July 2011.
  48. ↑ "Multitasker model Indrani Pal Chaudhuri fuses fashion with woman power". Folomojo.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.