Preet Review by Jen Bush

                Manasvi Sharma is a New York based actress working on stage, film and commercials.  She received her training in California and New York from prestigious institutions such as the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.   She recently performed at the landmark American Theatre of Actors in Legend of the Chalk Circle.  Ms. Sharma would like to use her art for more than entertainment.  “I strive to work on projects that support a cause and have an impact on society. I believe in the power of art and how it can bring change in oneself and others.”  This was certainly the case for the short film she stars in titled Preet.  Preet is making the festival circuit and has already won the best short film award at the Indian Film Festival of Houston.

            Preet is not sweet.  It’s a serious and disturbing short film that addresses rape and violence against women.  The very first shot we see of newlywed Preet Kaur Sethi is in her elaborate wedding attire.  She is a stunning bride, and it is her wedding night.  The next shot we see is of the same woman sans makeup or fancy clothes waiting anxiously at the airport.  Her demeanor went from hopeful to hopeless.

            Preet was violated on her wedding night by her callous and misogynistic husband.  She eventually escapes this arranged and abusive marriage and flees to New York City seeking refuge with a trusted male childhood friend named Jugal.  Unfortunately, her preconceived notion of a safe haven in America did not match the reality of the situation.  Preet is suffering from P.T.S.D. and is easily triggered by the gaze or touch of a man.  Several men live in the household that she shares with her friend Jugal. He is completely insensitive to this, and things don’t work out as planned for either party.

            Preet is not a film that aims to entertain.  The goal is to raise awareness of the mental and psychological damage that survivors of domestic violence and marital rape endure.  The goal was accomplished through the skillful directing of Jayesh Jaidka who also penned and produced the film.  The clever juxtaposition of scenes highlighted the P.T.S.D. elements.  When Preet’s friend Jugal simply placed his hand on her arm, she froze, and the scene shifted to a flashback of Preet’s violent wedding night.  We see many flashback scenes which bring Preet’s trauma to the forefront.  The darker lighting and color palettes also contributed to the sad and desperate tone of the film.

            Manasvi Sharma demonstrated her acting chops when she was cast in Inedible, a short film that had no dialogue.  She successfully conveyed the emotional journey of her character through her expressive eyes and meaningful facial expressions.  She took that to another level in Preet.   In a heart wrenching manner, Ms. Sharma showed us a broken woman struggling to hold it together in an existence surrounded by men.  You feel every ounce of pain and anguish that Preet is going through led by a skilled actress who can easily bring these emotions to the surface.  It’s a character that garners a great deal of sympathy.

            If acting doesn’t work out for Manasvi Sharma, she also has a law degree.  Based on the skill and emotional complexity that Ms. Sharma is able to bring to the table of an artist, I suspect she will be playing more lawyers than actually being one.  Keep an eye out for this talented actress.  She’s already off to an excellent start.