Live The Dream Podcast
Breaking the Silence: Alcoholism, Family Trauma & Punjabi Culture | Ajit Singh
What happens when the things we grow up believing are “normal” actually aren't?In this episode of the Live The Dream Podcast, I sit down with filmmaker and director Ajit Singh for a powerful and incredibly open conversation about his short film, Dukh — a story inspired by experiences within the Punjabi/Sikh community that too often remain behind closed doors.Ajit opens up about his own upbringing, growing up shy and struggling to find his voice while witnessing alcoholism, conflict, pride, family breakdown and behaviours that can become normalised from one generation to the next.Rather than simply talking about these issues, Ajit chose to turn them into art.We explore why he created Dukh, the deeply personal experiences behind the film, and why he believes fictional cinema has the power to create conversations that documentaries and statistics alone sometimes cannot.But this conversation goes much further than Dukh.Ajit and I get into the realities of independent filmmaking, why creative control matters, the changing power of directors in today's film industry, streaming platforms, Hollywood's obsession with existing IP, the importance of original storytelling and whether independent filmmakers can still break through.Ajit also takes us behind the scenes of making Dukh — from writing and casting to finding locations, assembling a crew, directing actors, editing the film himself and funding the production from his own savings.We discuss:️ Why Ajit created Dukh️ Alcoholism and generational trauma within families️ Pride, ego and silence within the Punjabi community️ Growing up without feeling able to speak up️ Turning painful experiences into meaningful art️ Why cinema became Ajit's escape️ Why storytelling matters more than spectacle️ Independent filmmaking vs the studio system️ Creative control and the changing role of directors️ Casting actors who understood the subject matter️ How Dukh was filmed in just three shooting days️ Self-funding an independent film️ Building a cast and crew who believed in the project️ Editing and post-production️ Advice for aspiring directors and filmmakers️ Why we need more South Asian filmmakers telling original storiesOne thing Ajit makes very clear is that Dukh isn't intended simply to show a dysfunctional family.It's about awareness.It's about starting conversations.And most importantly, it's about reminding people experiencing these situations that there is hope.If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Conversations like these are how silence begins to change. Guest: Ajitt Mann CONNECT WITH AJITInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajitmannfilmmakerSponsor Ajit Run The Marathon: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ajit-mannWatch Dukh: https://indiecrib.com/watch/66f76cc4-2dcc-424a-be34-72cb3a09f4c1⚠️ CONTENT NOTEThis episode discusses alcoholism, domestic abuse, childhood experiences and family trauma.If you or somebody you know is affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, please consider speaking to an appropriate professional or support organisation:NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ ️ Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with creators, entrepreneurs & changemakers.Get the latest updates and BONUS Content: https://livethedreampodcast.comMore about me and my projects: https://www.harindermullay.com/Need growth infrastructure and systems to elevate your business: http://aurexaisolutions.com/Want to learn more about my faith, check out: https://www.basicsofsikhi.com/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@harinder.mullayLinked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harinder-mullay/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harinder.mullay/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@harinder.mullayX - https://x.com/harindermullayFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/harindermullayofficial
