Today we’d like to introduce you to Tharun.
Hi Tharun, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first foray into art was drawing my favorite characters from movies, TV shows, and cartoons I watched as a child. This naturally transitioned into a burning passion for filmmaking. This passion built up my confidence to pursue filmmaking through and through. Even though it was a hassle to convince my family, they knew that this art form meant the world to me. Before I even set foot in college, I had already made a feature-length amateur film by borrowing equipment from my high school video production class. A consistent engagement with the multifaceted process of filmmaking led me to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Film and TV program. Getting into one of the best film schools in the nation gave my family and me an incredible amount of confidence. Now I have the utmost support from my family and friends that this dream is legitimate and worth fighting for.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, nor did I expect it to be. I feel that any project I embark on should scare me to a certain extent and should feel like a risk, or else it’s not worth the endeavour. That mentality has made obstacles feel like branching pathways that have led me to learn new skills and discover new things about myself time and time again. Being an emerging filmmaker doesn’t guarantee everything you’ve dreamed up will make it on screen. Coming to terms with that is challenging and often discouraging, but reminding myself that this is a privilege is what keeps me from giving up. I’ve always wanted to tell stories on a feature-length level, but it’s discouraged and extremely difficult with the resources I had access to. But choosing to go through with that was highly ambitious, and it came with many obstacles. Just finishing the project seemed impossible, but filmmaking is a collaborative effort that goes beyond just me. Finishing the project is paramount not only for the creative lead but also for the fellow creatives who made the film possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a filmmaker, writer, producer, actor, and editor. In any project I embark on, I wear most, if not all, of these hats. The project I’m most proud of at the moment is a feature-length film I co-directed, co-wrote, and starred in called Far from the Grove. The film is a crime drama about Del, a low-level drug dealer, who infiltrates a support group to recruit new customers, only to cross paths with Khalif, a haunted addict seeking escape from his past. As Del feeds Khalif’s descent into the drug-induced world of “the grove,” the two men spiral toward inevitable mutual destruction.
The film is currently under consideration at film festivals. What sets me apart from others in this medium is my aspiration to tackle ambitious projects and my resourcefulness. I believe in just doing it, even if it falls short of expectations. Far from the Grove was a feature film with a very long, rigorous production spanning from 2022 to 2025. It was a film with action sequences, a big cast, and a narrative that was rather ambitious, and although it isn’t perfect, finishing it under the circumstances was the actual achievement. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons, and it has only made me a better filmmaker, and whatever I do next will dwarf anything I’ve done in the past.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
It’s silly to give advice when I’m so early in my career, but it’s already been a long road, so it’s definitely worth speaking on the things I’ve learned. For those who are starting, I believe that they should never sell themselves short, always dream big, and master the art of completion, no matter how much you dread, hate, or regret the project you embarked on. Analyze and manifest what you’re able to bring to the table that other people necessarily can’t, simply because they don’t see the world, or do they walk through the world the same way you do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tharunsaravanakumar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tharun_saravanakumar/
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