Two South Asian directorial debuts make for some interesting content on Netflix, led by women, featuring their own unique and diverse POVs
Later this month, Netflix is releasing directorial debuts by two stunningly talented South Asian women who directed, wrote, and starred in their first films.
“Definition Please” from Sujata Day, and “Donkeyhead” from Agam Darshi, debut Friday on Netflix in Australia, New Zealand, U.S., Canada and the U.K.
“Definition Please” follows Monica (played by Day), a former Scripps National Spelling Bee champion who must with her estranged brother when he returns home to help care for their sick mother.
Starring, written, produced and directed by Day, “Definition Please” also features Ritesh Rajan (“Russian Doll,” “Jungle Book”), Anna Khaja (“The Walking Dead: World Beyond”), Jake Choi (“Single Parents”), Lalaine (“Lizzie McGuire”), with LeVar Burton (“Roots,” “Reading Rainbow”), and introduces Maya Kapoor.
“Donkeyhead,” a term of endearment Punjabi parents use for their children, stars writer/director Darshi as “Mona,” a failed writer who carves out a life of isolation while caring for her ailing Sikh father. When he suffers a debilitating stroke, her three successful siblings show up on her doorstep, determined to take control of the situation. You might remember Darshi from Deepa Mehta’s 2020 film, “Funny Boy.”
The two films are distributed by ARRAY Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s Peabody Award-winning narrative change collective
“Donkeyhead” stars Darshi, Kim Coates (“Sons of Anarchy”), Sandy Sidhu (“Nurses,” “Legends of Tomorrow”), Stephen Lobo (“Arrow”), Huse Madhavji (“Schitt’s Creek”), Marvin Ishmael (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”), and Balinder Johal (“Beeba Boys”).
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To check out more South Asian-driven content on streaming platforms, check out Make Hulu’s New Release, “Plan B,” Your Plan A
