Agra girl’s film shortlisted for Dada Sahab Phalke Award

Debutant director Shamika Tomar, who hails from Agra, is on cloud nine after her short film ‘The Grief ’ has been shortlisted along with other films for the prestigious Dada Sahab Phalke Award. Now, the shortlisted movies will to go through a stringent selection process and results will be announced later this month.

For her success, Shamika gives credit to Taj-city from where she belongs and had shot the film. Having graduated from New York Film Academy, Los Angeles (USA), the lass chose to work in the field of movie-making.

“I chose Taj Mahal and life of those earning their livelihood here for my directorial debut in India. The film has been shot in Tajganj and it made me more aware about the city and its life. Even my cameraman from Spain enjoyed working here and that was proud moment for me as an Indian and an Agra-girl,” she says. The young director says that her father Sanjay Toman, who runs a school, is her mentor.

The short film stars Masaan-fame Sanjai Mishra and OMG-fame Lubna Salim. Mishra plays a tonga rider who ferries tourists to Taj Mahal. Agra- based artistes Garima Mishra and Krishika are other actors in ‘The Grief.’

“I had been encouraged for making more short films after making English movies ‘Odd Essay’, ‘Link Street’, ‘Fourth Person’ and ‘Hitched’,” says Shamika who had done her education from Agra. She has studied in St. Patrick’s Junior College. She is now working on a feature film. “I am busy writing the script for the film and would come back soon,” says Shamika who is leaving for the USA on Sunday but will be back before the month end.

Shamika Tomar and still from her film The Grief