Life & Work with Niranjana K Arunkumar of Midtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niranjana K Arunkumar.

Niranjana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming an artist, but I was always surrounded by stories. The places I lived in were filled with DVDs and VHS tapes, and as a seven-year-old, I somehow became the one in charge of choosing what my family watched. More often than not, it was Shrek, which, in my opinion, is one of the best-written and most brilliantly crafted stories, ever. I am confident all those stories quietly shaped how I understood emotion, relationships, and the art of storytelling. The moment I truly understood the power of film came during a difficult time when my father was unwell and struggled to speak. One day, he softly began singing lyrics from an old movie song he loved. That small moment of joy, sparked entirely by a movie, stayed with me. It made me realize that art does not just entertain, but heals, connects, and sometimes speaks for us when we cannot. I think that is when I truly realized I want to make art for a living. I was always an expressive child, which meant I was quickly pushed toward practicing an art form, dance. I fell in love with the stage, the adrenaline, the joy of performing, and the quiet satisfaction of holding an audience’s attention. A couple of undergraduate years and jobs later, I found myself searching for something more, something that felt closer to the stories I had grown up with. That search led me to pursue my master’s in Film and Television, with the hope of continuing to entertain people in a more lasting way. I began directing projects as well as working in the camera department in student films. While pursuing my masters, my path also expanded into live production through my work at SCADshow (Performing arts theatre). Stepping into the technical side of live entertainment, from lighting to backstage management to real-time problem solving, opened up an entirely new creative world for me. It gave me the same rush I once felt as a performer, but this time from behind the scenes. It reshaped how I think about collaboration, timing, and storytelling, showing me how many moving parts come together to create a single seamless experience. I feel incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to express myself across different forms of art.
Right now, I am in the final stages of my MFA in Film and Television, and by the time this article is published, I will have completed the production of my thesis film, What Girls Want. The film is an emotionally honest and dramatic story about identity, family, and complicated mother daughter relationships. It brings together everything I have experienced so far, grief, humor, cultural tension, and the uncomfortable spaces people do not always talk about, weaving them into one story. My journey has not been linear or neatly structured, but every detour has shaped me in ways I could not have planned. What I have come to understand is that moving between cultures, disciplines, and creative roles is not a limitation. It is where my voice lives, grows, and finds its truth.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. Losing my father at a young age shaped not only my personal life but also the way I imagined my future. For a long time, grief influenced my decisions, and although I never doubted my desire to pursue art, I struggled to figure out how to move forward without him. A part of me feels like I am creating and living for both of us and that’s my motivation. Looking back now, I can see that something shifted the moment my parents introduced me to a form of creative expression and I am grateful for that. Even if I was too young to fully understand it then, something in me recognized it. I think, in that quiet and instinctive way, I already knew that storytelling was what I was meant to do.
Growing up across different places has also been both a challenge and a gift. I lived in the Netherlands, moved across multiple cities in India, and now find myself in the United States, pursuing my higher education. Change has been my only constant. I was never fully rooted in one place, never completely fitting into a single culture, and that sense of in-betweenness was difficult at times. But it has also become the core of who I am as an artist. It allows me to tell stories that sit between worlds and cultures. I almost feel like I can bridge cultures and experiences through my art. Apart from that, being an international student and making art in another country clearly comes with its own set of challenges. I often find myself having to be two steps ahead, both emotionally and practically, compared to others. Everything requires extra planning and extra resilience. At the same time, that pressure has pushed me to grow faster. While the distance from my version of “familiarity” can feel isolating, it has also taught me independence and confidence in my voice. Personally, I’d recommend taking the road that’s not smooth.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have experience across a variety of productions that span both creative and technical roles. Early in my career, I worked at video production company as an assistant director. Currently I am pursuing my masters in film and tv and during my time in the states, I got to work for various notable projects! I was the Director of Photography on chefATL (Episode 108), a show where SCAD students and local chefs explore the diversity of Atlanta’s culinary scene. The production involved over 100 students across nine SCAD degree programs and was shot on location at SCAD Film Studios in Midtown Atlanta as well as restaurants across the city. The show airs on WABE TV (Atlanta) and the PBS Passport app. I’ve also worked as a Technical Production Assistant at the Savannah Film Festival in 2025, contributing to backstage operations, stage setup, and camera work for several IndieWire talks. From 2024 to 2025, I gained experience in animation and TV festival production in SCAD Atlanta, and I’ve been part of SCAD’s acclaimed concert series, BAM, under the technical production department (camera switcher during the show). What I’m most proud of is my upcoming thesis project, What Girls Want, which I am directing. It has successfully moved into post-production, and I’m excited for what lies ahead as it prepares to begin its festival run soon. These experiences have helped me merge creative storytelling with technical precision, whether I’m behind the camera or keeping a production running flawlessly and I thrive on bringing that same energy and innovation to every project I touch. What sets me apart is the energy I bring to the work. People often tell me I’m easy and fun to be around which matters a lot when you’re working long hours in high-pressure environments. I make it a point to keep a positive, happy space, helping the team stay sane.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my mom, my brother, and my dad (whose presence I carry with me always) for trusting my wildly unpredictable creative choices, even when they made absolutely no sense. I want to thank my mom, again, for being unknowingly iconic enough to inspire an entire film. And to everyone who has supported me at my current stage in life, whether through words or actions, thank you for standing by me as I grow into the artist I am meant to become.
Also, a huge thank you to my mentors and bosses and entire team at SCADshow, who introduced me to the world of live production and gave me the guidance, patience, and backstage adrenaline that awakened a whole new part of my creative identity. I truly wouldn’t be doing any of this without their support (and their lighting cues).
Finally, my friends (y’all know who you are) and the amazing people I’ve met here in the U.S. (Atlanta in specific) have been invaluable cheerleaders, and have truly helped shape who I am today. Someone famous once said “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” and I couldn’t agree more.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatgirlswant.film/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niranjana-k-arunkumar-446113227

Image Credits
Emma Mclntyre – Photographer Getty Entertainment
Derek White – Getty Images
Samridhi Jain – @Splashnfreeze
Aaron McLaughlin
William Brown – @williambrownphoto