Watch Aparna's Films
Aparna Wilder '98 – Filmmaker for Social Awareness
Park alumna Aparna Wilder '98 styles herself an "accidental filmmaker." Though she spent much of her time in high school with a camera to her eye, her photography was a pastime, a source of joy much like her time on the hockey field, but not a part of her career path. She studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia, planning for a career in the non-profit world. She served as a fellow for Indicorps, an organization much like the US's AmeriCorps which “aim[s] to nurture a new brand of socially conscious leaders with the character, knowledge, commitment, and vision to transform India and the world.” Captivated by what she was learning of India, Aparna remained in Mumbai when her fellowship concluded, and chose the medium of film to advocate for social change in the country she had come to call home.
In partnership with her husband Shivraj Santhakumar, Aparna founded and runs global rickshaw, a production company which specializes in crafting "short films for awareness." As she explains, "During my final year of graduate school, I decided to collaborate with my husband, who had recently received MTV India’s Best Music Video Award, and make short entertaining films that could inspire change. We started global rickshaw with the idea that we could use talent from the film industry to create visually interesting and technically sound short films in partnership with non-profit organizations. In three years, we have made nearly a dozen."
Because the topic of each film is determined by the needs of the particular organization, global rickshaw's films span a range of subjects – advocating for libraries and reading, for an ambulance system for Mumbai, and for cross-border understanding between India and Pakistan. These short films reach their audiences through local television channels and movie houses, appearing before or after feature-length films. Watch them at www.globalrickshaw.com.
Aparna's work is generating attention for important social issues. She was one of a group of 100 invited to participate in a prestigious conference run by TED.com, an organization that seeks to unite innovators in the worlds of technology, education, and design who are noted for "remarkable accomplishments" and have demonstrated “outstanding potential to positively affect the world." As a TEDIndia 2009 Fellow, she joins a "diverse group of artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, musicians, activists, doctors, researchers, filmmakers and teachers… from South Asia.”
Energized and inspired by four days with fellow change makers at TEDIndia in Mysore this past November, Aparna plans to continue to hone the mission of global rickshaw and explore how to optimize its impact on viewers’ behaviors and life choices. "I'm into broad conceptualization, how to work with people and how to get the message across effectively.”
Aparna remembers her Upper School years and teachers fondly, and the creativity, self reflection, and critical analysis she practiced at Park continue to serve her well. In stark contrast to the educational system she witnesses in India, Aparna notes that at Park "we learned from the people around us, we questioned each other, we did a lot of observation, we did a lot of hands-on learning." Now, as a social innovator and filmmaker intent on inspiring others to question the status quo, Aparna puts the values of Park and progressive education into action in the world.
To enjoy a few moments of inspiration and to boost your own social awareness, take a ride on Aparna's global rickshaw – http://www.globalrickshaw.com/films.html.
Aparna’s mother, Rani Wilder, teaches first grade at Park. Her brother Anand ’00 is a member of the Brooklyn band Yeasayer with Chris Keating ’00.
