Meet Kushal Shah | Director & Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kushal Shah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kushal, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks is an integral part on the pathway of improvment. Comfort zones are the number one things that kill any kinds of growth or innovation and taking risks enables us to break out of our comfort zones to explore new possibilites. Taking risks of course do not gurantee success but trying and failing is way better than not trying at all. This process leads us to our development and helps us overcome challenges that we face. It helps us build resilience. The decisions that I have taken in my life, primarily education and careeer related are shaped a lot by the risks that I have taken. Switching from IT to Film, being the first person in my family to pursue arts for a career and travelling half way around the world to study what I love, with my discipline and my parents’ blessings are nothing short of risks that I have taken for my career and my life. In most cases, the greatest achievements come from taking calculated risks and learning from both, the success and failure that comes from it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a filmmaker from India currently pursuing my MFA at SCAD in Atlanta. My journey in filmmaking began at the Film and Television Institute of India, where I had the opportunity to work as an assistant director on a short film alongside actor Uday Chandra. Following that, I served as the first assistant director on Sachin, Live from Pune, a short film commissioned by the Pune Municipal Corporation, which garnered over 100 nominations and awards across 50 countries globally.

After creating several short films in India, I decided to further my education and came to Atlanta. At SCAD, I worked on episode 2 of ChefATL, a student-produced cooking show, and collaborated with the Luxury and Brand Management and Advertising departments to create spec commercials that authentically mirrored the DNA of major brands.

My passion lies in directing and cinematography, with a focus on telling stories that delve deeply into human emotions. Growing up in India, I was inspired by the epic tales of the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and my background in animation and VFX from my undergraduate studies has driven me to bring these stories to life. Through my work, I aim to fuse my cultural heritage with my personal experiences, creating films that resonate on both an emotional and cultural level.

There were three major challenges that I have faced, First being my transition from India to US, not only in terms of my personal settings or cultural senses but also in terms of the approach to filmmaking, the creative environment and networks. The second was the pandemic during which I created a startup studio with my two best friends called “TASK Productions” which was short for “The Atharva Swapnil Kushal Productions”. It was a small setup we had at Swapnil’s apartment where we used the living room as the photography room and the bedroom as an editing suite. The third biggest challenge that I still face is staying true to my cultural storytelling roots while ensuring my films appeal to a global audience. This has taught me to strike a balance, infusing my projects with universal themes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting Atlanta for a week, here’s how I’d plan it:

Day 1: We’d start by visiting SCAD and then the Georgia Aquarium, one of my favourite places in the city. After that, we’d take a leisurely stroll through Piedmont Park to relax and enjoy the outdoors. In the evening, we’d head to the Jackson Street Bridge to catch one of the most iconic views of the Atlanta skyline, especially around sunset and probably do some photography

Day 2: A day trip to Chattanooga River would be on the itinerary next. We could enjoy some kayaking or just take in the breathtaking views.

Day 3: For a cultural day, we’d head to the Fox Theatre. If we could catch a show, even better! Before that, we’d visit Zoo Atlanta and explore the lush greenery of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, with its mesmerizing landscapes and plant displays.

Day 4: We’d spend the day exploring the Atlanta BeltLine. We’d rent some bikes, stop by the various art installations, and grab some lunch at one of the local eateries along the way.

Day 5: For a bit of adventure, we’d take a day trip out of the city to explore Stone Mountain or a hiking trail in the nearby mountains.

Day 6: After all the activity, we’d have a more relaxed day, starting with brunch at one of the city’s cozy cafes. Then, we’d visit local art galleries or check out some of the exciting street art that Atlanta is known for.

Day 7: We’d wrap up the trip with a fun night out, perhaps dining at one of the popular spots like Colony Square in Midtown or Buckhead, where Atlanta’s food scene really shines.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my parents. From the very beginning, they have stood by me regardless of the path I chose. My parents have an approach that I truly value—whenever I made a decision they might not have fully agreed with, instead of simply saying “no,” they would ask me to explain why I believed it was the right choice. This process of “selling” my ideas to them has been incredibly impactful, and I will always be grateful for it. I’d like to give a shoutout to Fergusson College in Pune where I pursued my Undergrad. This knowledge and experiences that I got over here from my professors and peers laid the foundations of my education and work ahead. SCAD has been an invaluable part of my life. I am thankful to SCAD for the education, work, exposure, contacts and a lot more that I have received over here. The friends that I made, back in India and here in United States have always inspired me to aim for perfection and always try to improve. Last but not the least, I want to give a shoutout to the movies that I grew up with, which inspired me to become a filmmaker. Even with all the time in the world, I cannot list the movies that have impacted me. Starting with “The Matrix Reloaded” which was the first movie I ever watched in a theater to watching Civil War a couple weeks ago, these movies have left a meaningful impression on me; to name one, I remember watching Zack Snyder’s “300” when I was 9 years old and that was when I first thought to myself “This is what I wanna do in my life”.

Instagram: @kushaltair

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kushaltair

Image Credits
Jaimil Patel, Zoe Nevins