Doctor-turned-actor, Indian American Lakshmi Devy has always been passionate about acting and filmmaking. Acclaimed for her work in Tamil and South Indian movies, Devy just won the prestigious Gold Remy Award for direction at the 54th WorldFest- Houston International Film festival, held April 16-25, for her movie, “When the Music Changes.” She told the Indo- American News Service: “This has been a great honor for a filmmaker like me and I am proud to represent my Indian roots in this manner.”
Devy shuttles between the U.S. and Chennai and after the lockdown and mounting Covid cases, she has preferred to stay back in India and is currently in discussions with several Hollywood production companies for her new venture. She has her own film production company FiDi talkies in the United States, which has produced “When the Music Changes” and Hollywood actor and director John Turturro is the executive producer for this project.
On her new ventures, the doctor-turned-filmmaker, who scripted, acted directed and produced the film told IANS, “I am speaking to several big names in the global film industry, however, I am bound by certain contracts in not revealing the names of these companies. Once we sign the agreement, I will definitely inform you on the production companies.”
Devy plays the role of the protagonist in ““When the Music Changes,” which is based on the Indian rape scenario as studies point out that in every 16 minutes a girl is raped in the country. Devy while speaking on the movie said, “The movie speaks on the rape in India and that it is not the woman who is raped loses the honor, instead it is the man who loses it because of the dastardly act.”
She also said that she is planning to do several charity shows across the globe, including a movie on the current medical emergency after the emergence of Covid, and how humanity has to stay together to overcome this pandemic which is taking away the precious lives of many in the most unfortunate of conditions.
Hailing From Kerala, Devy was the screenwriter for “Masala Padam” with national award winning actor Bobby Sinha and Mirchi Shiva. The film has won major accolades across Tamil Nadu. Devy also essayed a role in the movie. She has also done a short film, “Daro Mat,” made in both Tamil and Hindi. It was critically acclaimed in many international film festivals across the world and is now released on YouTube with over 3.5 million views. Tim Van Petten, ten-time Emmy award nominated director, Edie Falco, Emmy award-winning Hollywood actress, Aida Turturro, two-time Emmy award nominated actress, were all praises for the movie made by Devy.
It is to be noted that other famous winners of the Gold Remy Awards have been the who’s who of the global film industry, including Spielberg, Lucas, Ang Lee, the Coen brothers, Ridley Scott and several famous Hollywood directors. WorldFest is one of the oldest and largest film and video competitions in the world.