At just 22, filmmaker Karen Kshiti Suvarna is already making headlines for choosing emotionally layered and socially relevant subjects in her storytelling. After drawing attention with her short film Hide and Seek, which explored schizophrenia, the young director is now preparing for the release of her debut feature film September 21, a drama centered around Alzheimer’s disease and its emotional impact on families and caregivers.
Speaking about her choice of subjects and what draws her toward stories rooted in mental health and emotional realities, Karen reflected on the growing relevance of schizophrenia and why she felt compelled to explore it through cinema.
“Well, definitely, the short film I made was on the topic of schizophrenia—a subject that is, you know, increasingly prevalent right now. It was a topic that I found very interesting, and one that not many people were aware of.”
Her upcoming feature September 21 takes a similarly sensitive route, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease but from a perspective that is rarely highlighted in mainstream storytelling — the caregivers. Karen explained that while the condition is often reduced to memory loss in public understanding, the emotional reality surrounding it runs much deeper.
“And if I speak about September 21, the topic is sensitive and mature. I feel that Alzheimer's is a subject—especially here in India—where not many people are truly aware of what it actually entails. They often define it simply as memory loss or dementia, but it is actually much more than that. So, personally, for my debut feature film, I didn't just want to tell a run-of-the-mill story; I always wanted my first feature to convey a meaningful message. I wanted the audience to watch it and feel, "Okay, this is my story. She has captured my story."”
Karen also revealed that the story deeply resonated with her because it was inspired by the personal experiences of the writer himself, making the emotional core of the film feel authentic and urgent.
“So, when I first heard this story—since it was based on the personal experiences of the writer himself—I felt very strongly that this is a story that needs to be told. We have certainly seen films about Alzheimer's before—critically acclaimed ones, even—but they have mostly focused on the patient. No one has really addressed the perspective of the caregivers.”
The director emphasized that September 21 intentionally shifts the emotional focus onto the people caring for patients and the invisible emotional burden they carry every day.
“Therefore, this film is told through the lens and perspective of a caregiver. And how—even if a person cannot cure—they can care. So, it is a film entirely about that. Personally, I felt that this is a story I wanted to tell.”
September 21 stars Priyanka Upendra, Pravin Singh Sisodia, and veteran actress Zarina Wahab in pivotal roles. The film explores the emotional, mental, and practical challenges faced by families living with Alzheimer’s and aims to spark deeper awareness around the condition and the lives affected by it.
The drama is slated for a theatrical release on May 22, 2026, and is also scheduled to premiere at the Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival on May 16. Directed by Karen Kshiti Suvarna, the film has already generated attention for its mature storytelling approach and was previously showcased as a work-in-progress at the International Film Festival of India.
With September 21, Karen Kshiti Suvarna is positioning herself as a filmmaker unafraid to tackle emotionally complex subjects — and audiences are now eager to see how her deeply personal and socially conscious vision unfolds on the big screen.