For My Ela at Cannes Shorts 2026 | Mallika Prasad with Sandhya Mendonca 

What happens when a natural disaster forces a filmmaker to rethink an entire story? And what does it take to bring an independent film to life when the landscape, the weather and the circumstances refuse to cooperate?

In this episode of Spotlight with Sandhya, Sandhya Mendonca speaks with filmmaker Mallika Prasad about For My Ela, a film shaped by adversity, creative reinvention and the rugged beauty of the Himalayas.

Following devastating landslides in the region, Mallika had to rewrite the script in just three days. What followed was a demanding shoot in Spiti, with temperatures dropping to -10°C, as she worked to bring her vision to the screen.

The conversation explores how unexpected circumstances can reshape a creative process, turning obstacles into opportunities to discover a different story. In For My Ela, the landscape is more than a backdrop. The stark beauty and unforgiving terrain of Spiti become part of the film’s emotional world, reflecting themes of grief, loss and resilience.

Mallika also opens up about the realities of independent filmmaking, from securing funding and conducting open auditions to navigating the challenges of distribution and reaching audiences beyond the conventional film industry.

With a career spanning theatre, filmmaking and acting, Mallika brings a distinctive perspective to her work. She also discusses her varied artistic journey, including her role as a villain in Mardaani 3, and what it means to move between different creative worlds while retaining a clear artistic identity.

For filmmakers, artists and anyone interested in the process of bringing an independent vision to life, this conversation offers an honest look at the persistence, adaptability and courage that filmmaking demands.

Watch the full conversation to discover how a story can emerge from uncertainty, and how sometimes the most meaningful creative breakthroughs happen when the original plan falls apart.

Recorded at Qubix HiFi, Museum Road, Bengaluru.

Venue partner: Qubix HiFi.

Edited by Raintree Media Originals.

Spotlight with Sandhya is a Raintree Media series featuring candid conversations with people whose experiences, ideas and creative journeys offer a deeper understanding of the world around us.

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