FROM NOWHERE | A SHORT FILM BY SHOMIK BASURAY
FROM NOWHERE
FROM NOWHERE | TEASER
Shot on Real Locations | Non Actors | Fiction Short Film
Genre: Drama
Run Time: 14.51mins
Aspect Ratio: 1:2.35
Sound Format: 5.1 stereo
Camera: Sony FX9
Language: Hakka, English, Bengali, Hindi
Subtitles: English
LOG LINE
Henry, a carefree young man from Kolkata’s fast disappearing Chinese community is devastated upon learning that his girlfriend Hillary, has decided to migrate out of India, and is forced to question his identity and life choices.
FROM NOWHERE | TRAILER
A "Hakka" language film which captures the conflicts and experiences of the tiny Hakka Chinese community of India.
SYNOPSIS
A dinner date spirals into an unexpected break up, when Henry, a carefree young man from Kolkata’s fast disappearing ethnic Hakka Chinese minority, learns that his girlfriend Hillary, like many others in the community, has decided to migrate to Canada.
Henry’s attempts to brush issues under the carpet, his persistent refusal to acknowledge the economic and social marginalisation faced by the Chinese frustrate Hillary and force her to take this painful decision.
Reluctant to leave the city of his birth, the only place with which he feels an emotional connection, yet where he feels like an outsider, Henry is at a crossroads.
Devastated and confused he is forced to do some soul searching regarding his identity and roots.
A mentor reminds Henry of the nomadic nature of the Hakka people, and counsels Henry to be pragmatic and go where his fortune takes him.
Just as he witnesses a group of aggressive right wing Hindu youth biking through the streets, chanting militant slogans, a chance encounter with a friend at a late night tea stall helps Henry achieve closure in his mind.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
From Nowhere is an ambitious film, an honest portrayal of issues confronting the vibrant yet fast disappearing Chinese community of Kolkata.
I have always been fascinated with uncovering stories and studying the experiences of small minority communities, and especially those that are so minuscule that they are almost invisible.
In the current political climate of loud majoritarian politics, the experiences of a micro community like the Chinese, who are visibly identifiable as not belonging to the majority community was of particular importance to me.
A combination of many factors including a complicated relationship with the Indian Government, the politics of nationalism and xenophobia, failure to adapt to a changing economy and integrate into the economic mainstream, closure of small family run businesses, the allure of a cushier life in the west, have all contributed to a steady exodus from Kolkata.
For Chinese youth, there is a peculiar sense of alienation and rootlessness that is their reality. Kolkata is the city of their birth, the only place they call home, the city they love yet one where they still feel like outsiders at some level. At the same time, while they try to preserve vestiges of the Chinese identity, they lack any meaningful connections with the land of their ancestors.
This feeling of alienation and rootlessness is at the core of “From Nowhere.”
The sadness of wanting to belong to a place where you will always feel like an outsider.
This film is an examination of identity, of a desire to belong to a place and a community, of wanting to find a human connection which is beyond the narrow definitions of religion, race and ethnicity.
The term "Hakka" has multiple meanings, referring both to a group of people and a language.
Literally, "Hakka" translates to "Guest Families" or "Guest People" in English.
BTS
CAST AND CREW
Kenneth Liao
as Henry
Kenneth Liao is a 4th generation Indian Chinese, he is a talented young chef and second generation Restaurateur. He runs a popular Hakka restaurant called Tai Sen, and is extremely passionate about preserving Hakka cuisine and the history and traditions of the Kolkata Hakka Chinese community.
Along with expanding his culinary horizons, Kenneth is also keen to explore acting as a career option.
Chin Chen Hillary Chu
as Hillary
Hillary Chin Chen Chu, born in 1998 in Mumbai to Hakka Chinese parents, is a proud 4th generation Indian Chinese. Her family's story began in the early 1900's when her great grandfather sailed to Kolkata in the early 1920's, leaving behind a strife torn China.
Her family eventually moved to Bombay, where her father found his fortune as a chef and played a key role in the development of Indo Chinese cuisine.
Hillary is an accomplished Hair and Make Up artist, a vocation which has traditionally been followed by many Chinese women in India, embracing her roots and her passion, Hillary has built a career that allows her to combine artistry, culture and personal expression.
Joanne Lee
as Mother
Joanne Lee (Lee Li Yun) is a third generation Indian Chinese entrepreneur and actor. Her grandparents came over to Calcutta on ships sometime in the 1920s and were engaged in the leather business like many others in the community.
Today she lives in Delhi, with her daughter and mother, and plays a keen role in preserving and documenting the stories of her community.
Clement Tseng
as James
Clement Tseng is a third generation Indian Chinese. He is a popular figure in the Kolkata Chinese community and is also a professional Mandarin language coach. Clement has a keen interest in Hakka cuisine and is involved in running one of the last remaining family run Hakka restaurants in Kolkata.
Kaushik Patra
Director of Photography
Kaushik Patra is a Mumbai based Cinematographer, who has worked in the industry for over a decade and shot multiple feature films, web series, ads, music videos and award winning shorts.
Sheldon Rebello
Production Designer
Sheldon Rebello is a veteran Production Designer based in Mumbai who has worked in various capacities in Production Design for nearly 2 decades. A rare combination of strong aesthetics with resourcefulness allows him to improvise solutions in challenging production environments.
Sayantan Ghosh
Sound Recordist
Sayantan is a sound designer, production sound mixer, and re-recording mixer with a strong foundation in film audio, backed by his postgrad degree from SRFTI, Kolkata. As co-owner of Shor Studios, he brings his expertise to a diverse range of film and media projects in the studio world.
Sri Bhakti Das (Sebastián Kauak)
composer of "The Silence of Your Absence"
Sri Bhakti Das (Sebastián Kauak), a native of Chile, is an accomplished exponent of Indian classical music and has immersed himself for decades in the traditions of Indian Classical music and spirituality. Having trained under some of the most renowned masters of the Hindustani classical tradition. He is a master of several instruments such as the Sitar, Subrahar, Veena and Esraaj.
Ahmed Hasan Sunny
composer & vocalist of "Aar Ashbona Bole"
Ahmed Hassan Sunny is a multi disciplinary artist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A prolific songwriter, composer, singer and film maker, Sunny's work has won accolades and awards. He is one of the most noted young artists in his country.
Charu Takkar
Editor
Charu Takkar, a Mumbai-based editor and alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India, has over nine years of experience in fiction and non-fiction storytelling.
She has worked on multiple acclaimed projects which have released on Netflix India, while "OK Computer," a sci fi mockumentary, she edited premiered at Rotterdam (IFFR)
Hany Halim Ahmed
Colorist, Nube Studio
Hany Halim has worked as Senior DI Colorist for over 2 decades on films, series, short films and commercials across the world building visual stories that feel cinematic, human and alive.
A native of Cairo, Hany currently works out of Mumbai, where he works on some of the biggest shows for Netflix and other streaming platforms.
Moinak Bose
Sound Designer & Mix Engineer
Post graduate in sound recording and sound design from the Film and Television Institute of India, Moinak Bose is an accomplished Sound designer and mixer, having experience in documentaries, fiction, short films and web series. His filmography includes Shaunak Sen's Oscar nominated documentary 'All That Breathes' at the 95th Academy Awards, Payal Kapadia's 'A Night Of Knowing Nothing' which won the Golden Eye award at the Cannes Film Festival, 2021 and Sarvnik Kaur's 'Against The Tide' which won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Verite Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival, 2023.
Arka Jyoti Pal
Line Producer
Arka Pal is an experienced producer with expertise across feature films, web series, documentaries, and branded content. An alumnus of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute with a specialisation in Producing for Film & Television, Arka brings comprehensive production management and creative development skills to every project.
Debottam Basu
First AD
Debottam is a Mumbai based writer and filmmaker and an alumnus of SRFTI, Kolkata. His films 'Last Rites' & "Keep Safe Distance" have gone to IDSFFK (Kerala) among other festivals. He has written and directed short documentaries, fiction films, corporate films (for Coal India Limited and Northern Coalfields Limited) over the last decade.
He shuttles between Mumbai and Kolkata and is currently working on a Bengali language period feature film.
Yukta Admane
Associate Producer & Costume Stylist
Yukta is an Associate Producer at The Bombay Film Company. She follows a multidisciplinary path, balancing production, writing and independent creative projects. She recently published her chapbook "The Write Side of the Brain" (2024), a collection of 21 poems, and her other work has appeared in three anthologies (2019, 2020 & 2024).
Before starting with The Bombay Film Company, she wrote and directed a four video music series and worked on a documentary about the Anti-Conversion Law in India.
Dhruba Sinha Ray
Production Manager
Dhruba Sinha Ray is an Executive Producer with strong experience across fiction and non fiction. A postgraduate of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI), he has worked on a range of notable projects, Hindi and Bengali feature films, short films, international co productions and web series.
Joydeep Bhowmick
Associate Cinematographer
Joydeep is an SRFTI alumnus in cinematography. His latest feature film "Ahana" had a theatrical release in Bengal and travelled to many festivals worldwide. Beyond filmmaking he’s a sports enthusiast.
Shayon Chakraborty
Second AD
Shayon Chakraborty is an Executive Producer, Post Producer and Director’s Assistant known for his work across web series, ad films and long-format narratives. With credits on major platforms including SonyLIV, MX Player and Hoichoi, he brings a blend of creative insight and production discipline to every project.
Shashank Borkar
Online Supervisor
Shashank Borkar is one of the most sought after VFX artists in Mumbai. He runs a very successful VFX ad online studio and has worked on over a 1000 commercials.
Siddhesh Girkar
Trailer Editor
Siddhesh is a skilled editor and post-production supervisor with over 10 years of experience across advertising and long form content.
Pauline Li
Language and Cultural Consultant
Pauline is a Hakka Chinese cultural consultant who provided invaluable translation support throughout the film’s development. She offered nuanced cultural guidance to ensure authenticity in language and community representation.
Shomik Basuray
Writer, Director & Producer
Shomik Basuray is a Mumbai based Writer, Director and Producer. Stories which capture the social and political complexities of contemporary India are of particular interest to him.
A film enthusiast from his youth, Shomik played a key role in the distribution of World Cinema in India, spearheaded release of the works of acclaimed directors on various platforms.
Of particular pride to him, is that he was able to launch the works of his idol Wong Kar Wai on DVD in India.
Shomik has worked in various capacities in production and creative space for the last 13 years and has recently taken to direction. As a director his endeavour is to create visually compelling and politically relevant work. From Nowhere is his second short film.
Kuo Choong Li (Henry)
Facilitator
Henry is a 4th generation Indian Chinese, and has Hakka and Cantonese heritage. His forefathers settled in Kolkata in the early 1900s and established one of the cities first Chinese owned shoe shops. Henry is a restaurateur and is a chronicler of the community's traditions and oral history. A driving force behind important and waning cultural practices like the Lion Dance, Henry's personal story forms the nucleus of "From Nowhere."