https://soniadesairayka.com sonia desai rayka Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:58:21 +0000 https://soniadesairayka.com en https://soniadesairayka.com/Home Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:19:15 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/Home https://soniadesairayka.com/ucw Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:44:32 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/ucw untitled camera workshop filmdirection, production, cinematographyin production, est.release early 2027 additional cinematography: césar martínez barba&nbsp; edit: elisa correa animator: nicole antebi <img width="1156" height="656" width_o="1156" height_o="656" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a564f830864125de01a0cf9b52521a55877e85accb05c1b8760a1e8126f52b90/IMG_8855-2.jpg" data-mid="229576745" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a564f830864125de01a0cf9b52521a55877e85accb05c1b8760a1e8126f52b90/IMG_8855-2.jpg" /><img width="1170" height="651" width_o="1170" height_o="651" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/69eaac3881f0f145707859408d0555158175f3fe058139c2ea065d8aa682a31d/IMG_8859.jpg" data-mid="229576753" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/69eaac3881f0f145707859408d0555158175f3fe058139c2ea065d8aa682a31d/IMG_8859.jpg" /> As two children navigate the uncertainty of their family’s asylum case, they take photo walks across New York to document the homes they've built in a city growing increasingly more hostile toward them. https://soniadesairayka.com/rabari-kutch Thu, 06 Feb 2025 04:35:56 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/rabari-kutch <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c0c888f028c84be30b6de26b38ae68d191eba870af4a8af263ee1c8f52f51f12/Sequence-01.00_00_21_02.Still002.png" data-mid="226095138" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c0c888f028c84be30b6de26b38ae68d191eba870af4a8af263ee1c8f52f51f12/Sequence-01.00_00_21_02.Still002.png" /> rabari kutch, 2023direction, cinematography, edit narration: rajvi desai Rabari Kutch follows several Rabari women of rural western Gujarat who are keeping the heartbeat of ancestral textiles alive and tracks their developing perspectives on political intentions governing such economic progress. <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d7dbd341ebc4e954261c8146f776bdaac5bab76df750bca110b500279d8808f9/Sequence-01.00_04_19_11.Still005.png" data-mid="226095139" border="0" data-scale="89" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d7dbd341ebc4e954261c8146f776bdaac5bab76df750bca110b500279d8808f9/Sequence-01.00_04_19_11.Still005.png" /><img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/77646e4b8d629cf54b4f6f2a76b22ab7119201196e510da31647bddeca0a9465/Sequence-01.00_03_08_04.Still004.png" data-mid="226095140" border="0" data-scale="90" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/77646e4b8d629cf54b4f6f2a76b22ab7119201196e510da31647bddeca0a9465/Sequence-01.00_03_08_04.Still004.png" /><img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c997e07c2cdc850bfe2632384c61f1ebf8502b0fe864ba9acc8db5b25a6ceb7b/Sequence-01.00_24_17_23.Still007.png" data-mid="226095152" border="0" data-scale="90" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c997e07c2cdc850bfe2632384c61f1ebf8502b0fe864ba9acc8db5b25a6ceb7b/Sequence-01.00_24_17_23.Still007.png" /> https://soniadesairayka.com/ohio-is-in-the-heart-1 Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:19:15 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/ohio-is-in-the-heart-1 <img width="1440" height="1080" width_o="1440" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d0e79945647aa656fcaf2eb3b36ee8f2fe7fe4fbbe0f5829e7df36063134e722/Rosie-screengrab-1.jpg" data-mid="221427300" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d0e79945647aa656fcaf2eb3b36ee8f2fe7fe4fbbe0f5829e7df36063134e722/Rosie-screengrab-1.jpg" /> ohio is in the heart, 2024direction, cinematography, edit color + sound: nash consing animation: anna yeo music composition: haider ali mir A mother and daughter in Ohio reflect on their Filipino roots that propel their advocacy for a more inclusive K-12 social studies curriculum. Commissioned by Asian American Documentary Network “Our Stories, Our Voices” series https://soniadesairayka.com/mango-man Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:58:21 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/mango-man mango manproducer, additional cinematography in post-production, est.release winter 2027 director: samina saifee cinematographer: akmal nazer editor: shubhangi shekar <img width="1428" height="1005" width_o="1428" height_o="1005" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/26ab7810a68d8d3a098196095a0d84ebe5bf43082599e54a72c3871ac25aa64f/MM_1.18.1.PNG" data-mid="240749756" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/26ab7810a68d8d3a098196095a0d84ebe5bf43082599e54a72c3871ac25aa64f/MM_1.18.1.PNG" /> MANGO MAN is a documentary short recounting the poetic worldview and inner musings of&nbsp; Kaleem Ullah Khan, world renowned horticulturalist, during peak mango harvest in Uttar Pradesh, India. <img width="1433" height="1009" width_o="1433" height_o="1009" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ae5f9aa8caa16083727901688bbdb20214a75d63446dbc22a63ff431f89354f/Untitled_1.378.1.PNG" data-mid="240749852" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0ae5f9aa8caa16083727901688bbdb20214a75d63446dbc22a63ff431f89354f/Untitled_1.378.1.PNG" /><img width="1438" height="1077" width_o="1438" height_o="1077" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/16387c0e3b2842f6a077c8bf0061b6c0ae551187ee54640dfb1095023801cd71/Untitled_1.538.1.PNG" data-mid="240749854" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/16387c0e3b2842f6a077c8bf0061b6c0ae551187ee54640dfb1095023801cd71/Untitled_1.538.1.PNG" /><img width="1439" height="1077" width_o="1439" height_o="1077" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a922ecdb1ec43e79060aaf8a1d0d5336ac164c5dd6b143b3858f1b210772bc0d/Untitled_1.591.1.PNG" data-mid="240749855" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a922ecdb1ec43e79060aaf8a1d0d5336ac164c5dd6b143b3858f1b210772bc0d/Untitled_1.591.1.PNG" /> https://soniadesairayka.com/sculpture Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:17:22 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/sculpture <img width="2048" height="1528" width_o="2048" height_o="1528" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0790d6b5c0c9ab4fac3fe459351a6b64929bba27609451068268fc3578996fda/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.05.20AM.png" data-mid="221450020" border="0" data-scale="98" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0790d6b5c0c9ab4fac3fe459351a6b64929bba27609451068268fc3578996fda/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.05.20AM.png" /> where you stop i start, 2025 direction, cinematography, edit feat. kaelin palcu, edromar undag additional cinematography: anumeha, elisa correa As a sculptor molds the likeness of a contemporary dancer, he engages with the image of himself at varying stages of the process. WHERE YOU STOP, I START is a triad collaboration between three artists all seeking connection to and intimate understanding of the human form through — (1) language of the body; (2) interpretation of the body; (3) documentation of the body <img width="2158" height="1618" width_o="2158" height_o="1618" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d228fec8476e1bdfe68eaa7ca65891bf8f1f25fcaca536940aaf59b90b08b4ab/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.13.01AM.png" data-mid="221449997" border="0" data-scale="71" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d228fec8476e1bdfe68eaa7ca65891bf8f1f25fcaca536940aaf59b90b08b4ab/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.13.01AM.png" /><img width="2158" height="1618" width_o="2158" height_o="1618" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/85ad6d89e823696397fd56b6843f86cbe05b7015298cc9c5c79b15855e4d01e8/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.11.28AM.png" data-mid="226095105" border="0" data-scale="71" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/85ad6d89e823696397fd56b6843f86cbe05b7015298cc9c5c79b15855e4d01e8/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.11.28AM.png" /> https://soniadesairayka.com/sharon-1 Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:33:03 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/sharon-1 <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a808c18fdbc42c53a0e87a6d77fd46d45b7f8d8262da1462050faa873123c307/sharon.jpg" data-mid="221450207" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a808c18fdbc42c53a0e87a6d77fd46d45b7f8d8262da1462050faa873123c307/sharon.jpg" />sharon at homedirection, cinematography, edit feat. sharon wilson Sharon and I were neighbors throughout the entirety of the pandemic. She would sit outside with her cigarette and we’d chat with each other across our porches. She quickly became a dear friend, someone I call the minute I’m in Columbus. Last time I was there, she invited me over for pie, told me beautiful stories about her life as a musical theatre performer, and tried to get the right chords for Heart and Soul on the piano for maybe thirty minutes. I haven’t cut anything with this yet, and I’m not sure if I will - it’s just a dear memory I like to keep on my website as a reminder of my neighbors, my favorite people I do this all for. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9b6da0ac97f90532e66899508ecccc10ef5a28d1a532cc83026045796d99d404/hands-2.jpg" data-mid="221450209" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9b6da0ac97f90532e66899508ecccc10ef5a28d1a532cc83026045796d99d404/hands-2.jpg" /><img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f62f52c46cf16e43a7271177b729f395a9c8cb3824b9c92b0cee198970071cc/sharon-close-up-2.jpg" data-mid="221450208" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4f62f52c46cf16e43a7271177b729f395a9c8cb3824b9c92b0cee198970071cc/sharon-close-up-2.jpg" /><img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c0ec2cacfd617e0adffce69c03ce55f78ac9b4854ab46bdd331103ae65da605e/w-lace-2.jpg" data-mid="221450206" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c0ec2cacfd617e0adffce69c03ce55f78ac9b4854ab46bdd331103ae65da605e/w-lace-2.jpg" /> https://soniadesairayka.com/work-experience Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:49:39 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/work-experience work experience 2019-2025 <img width="750" height="422" width_o="750" height_o="422" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f215499eaf2ae41297a1ae50b20c82aaed207b5ec51e8e20d228555f758968cc/also-resisters.png" data-mid="226095333" border="0" alt="also resisters - dir. christina d. bartson / narration" data-caption="also resisters - dir. christina d. bartson / narration" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/750/i/f215499eaf2ae41297a1ae50b20c82aaed207b5ec51e8e20d228555f758968cc/also-resisters.png" /> <img width="600" height="337" width_o="600" height_o="337" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c6b052582a844330d295c4411d681b504e3653cd7a326d02031b1e40c053df8e/life-after-Large.jpeg" data-mid="226095339" border="0" data-draggable alt="life after - dir. reid davenport / associate producer" data-caption="life after - dir. reid davenport / associate producer" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/600/i/c6b052582a844330d295c4411d681b504e3653cd7a326d02031b1e40c053df8e/life-after-Large.jpeg" /> <img width="2500" height="1406" width_o="2500" height_o="1406" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/61adab1105c3b7e645f7c1b35afcfe47006a6faf3e467b1e58e77f475fb9d693/after-all-this.png" data-mid="226126438" border="0" alt="after all this - dir. andrew nadkarni / additional cinematography" data-caption="after all this - dir. andrew nadkarni / additional cinematography" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/61adab1105c3b7e645f7c1b35afcfe47006a6faf3e467b1e58e77f475fb9d693/after-all-this.png" /> <img width="851" height="479" width_o="851" height_o="479" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6f10a984e55c405a5d62d20a80ea16662c769b7e41396ebcd0f88f5a636ff2e6/dirty-pop-Large.jpeg" data-mid="226095328" border="0" alt="dirty pop - dir. david terry fine / archival researcher, clearance coordinator" data-caption="dirty pop - dir. david terry fine / archival researcher, clearance coordinator" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/851/i/6f10a984e55c405a5d62d20a80ea16662c769b7e41396ebcd0f88f5a636ff2e6/dirty-pop-Large.jpeg" /> <img width="512" height="288" width_o="512" height_o="288" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b3cbfb362acf9dc754c09701116d825810104e41ffcfbe371734507827e93f43/turnaround.jpg" data-mid="226095326" border="0" alt="the turnaround - dir. kyle thrash, ben proudfoot / archival researcher" data-caption="the turnaround - dir. kyle thrash, ben proudfoot / archival researcher" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/512/i/b3cbfb362acf9dc754c09701116d825810104e41ffcfbe371734507827e93f43/turnaround.jpg" /> <img width="1582" height="886" width_o="1582" height_o="886" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cb9602bd78a90a844a031838ce25e97300afd0ad7769b6d60b495395d51cee18/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.24.26AM.png" data-mid="221450527" border="0" alt="palestine tapestry project - dir. zayira ray / cinematographer" data-caption="palestine tapestry project - dir. zayira ray / cinematographer" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cb9602bd78a90a844a031838ce25e97300afd0ad7769b6d60b495395d51cee18/102_-2024-05-24-at-12.24.26AM.png" /> <img width="792" height="423" width_o="792" height_o="423" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ebe8982c4435b1f9eebf0617fff3376b4fb2faf7efe00d85be9f6f2b4c5341d5/coded-bias.jpg" data-mid="226126456" border="0" alt="coded bias - dir. shalini kantayya // impact producer " data-caption="coded bias - dir. shalini kantayya // impact producer " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/792/i/ebe8982c4435b1f9eebf0617fff3376b4fb2faf7efe00d85be9f6f2b4c5341d5/coded-bias.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7fb18b511ef7e65a07f8bfbe7c333ef5e32410e71173551d07f55a8d32eb47d9/angola-do-you-hear-us.jpg" data-mid="226126463" border="0" alt="angola do you hear us? - dir. cinque northern / production assistant" data-caption="angola do you hear us? - dir. cinque northern / production assistant" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7fb18b511ef7e65a07f8bfbe7c333ef5e32410e71173551d07f55a8d32eb47d9/angola-do-you-hear-us.jpg" /> <img width="1280" height="720" width_o="1280" height_o="720" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2a19ca8d0fd428702514a6292eee0c1e3e838cfbdbd2a075ef9fbde7ef105200/p18008931_b_h10_aa.jpg" data-mid="226095355" border="0" alt="tiger king - dir. eric goode, rebecca chaiklin / archival assistant" data-caption="tiger king - dir. eric goode, rebecca chaiklin / archival assistant" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2a19ca8d0fd428702514a6292eee0c1e3e838cfbdbd2a075ef9fbde7ef105200/p18008931_b_h10_aa.jpg" /> https://soniadesairayka.com/india-photos Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:34:26 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/india-photos <img width="3583" height="2374" width_o="3583" height_o="2374" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4b172fd381a2b25b8ac0adf6df47421f894ab7571b11cb479d52cb3942598897/000620940008.jpg" data-mid="221450213" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4b172fd381a2b25b8ac0adf6df47421f894ab7571b11cb479d52cb3942598897/000620940008.jpg" /><img width="3583" height="2395" width_o="3583" height_o="2395" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8ad470b89f49fcccb6eba8c779c88f3f383a6c01c1c851dae02e70deebda57e5/000523160017.jpg" data-mid="235232143" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8ad470b89f49fcccb6eba8c779c88f3f383a6c01c1c851dae02e70deebda57e5/000523160017.jpg" /><img width="3583" height="2395" width_o="3583" height_o="2395" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9ddd817fee1c024ac0ae307be765cfb89237dc80a3cec675c5237cf2dc22ac01/000523160015.jpg" data-mid="235232145" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9ddd817fee1c024ac0ae307be765cfb89237dc80a3cec675c5237cf2dc22ac01/000523160015.jpg" /> <img width="1280" height="855" width_o="1280" height_o="855" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/79751e06cc43fc521c867bbd5041487374668306c5c39531ed4c6b1a456ad36b/8-Large.jpeg" data-mid="221450214" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/79751e06cc43fc521c867bbd5041487374668306c5c39531ed4c6b1a456ad36b/8-Large.jpeg" /><img width="4240" height="2832" width_o="4240" height_o="2832" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/00f1fe57251e2785caafa23a7e240d0a5fa403a082ccf408a6f2e51d2a687678/1.png" data-mid="221450216" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/00f1fe57251e2785caafa23a7e240d0a5fa403a082ccf408a6f2e51d2a687678/1.png" /><img width="4240" height="2832" width_o="4240" height_o="2832" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3a4fd9a8366a2b26f60b405d62725ea2a1b839f77cdcfc7c0085b56e4664f20b/6.png" data-mid="221450218" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3a4fd9a8366a2b26f60b405d62725ea2a1b839f77cdcfc7c0085b56e4664f20b/6.png" /><img width="4240" height="2832" width_o="4240" height_o="2832" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/510b13267bbbafc6c264dcf6861f2f940ae7a85ea1a334228db45a2b96e5dcd9/7.png" data-mid="221450215" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/510b13267bbbafc6c264dcf6861f2f940ae7a85ea1a334228db45a2b96e5dcd9/7.png" /><img width="1280" height="855" width_o="1280" height_o="855" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b90f031a5df058caa6f73a067f0735de62869af5751534105ab2384a1d85a820/09-Large.jpeg" data-mid="226095463" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b90f031a5df058caa6f73a067f0735de62869af5751534105ab2384a1d85a820/09-Large.jpeg" /> https://soniadesairayka.com/writing Fri, 24 May 2024 15:18:29 +0000 sonia desai rayka https://soniadesairayka.com/writing writing very intermittent updates on my substack — you can subscribe here.