Shamita Siva is the Co-Creator of Twin Flame and a Performer playing the role of Kali. She is a multi-faceted performance artist and theatre maker who specialises in movement and devised work. Experienced in both stage and screen mediums; Shamita is a performer who enjoys a challenge. A trained dancer from an early age; after over 16 years of ballet training and a broad range of other dance styles, she developed an interest in theatrical dance forms such as Butoh alongside her acting. She holds a BA Performing Arts from Monash University, supplemented by training with Film & Television Studios International, Stella Adler AoA Los Angeles, AAFTA, and Meisner Technique. As a performing artist her work has travelled across Australia and overseas, from the tropical islands of Guam and Brunei to cosmopolitan Singapore. She often incorporates intercultural practices and cross disciplinary elements into her work, inspired by everyday experiences, music and sound, and socio- political issues she is driven by. When not on large scale stages and screens, she is an active performer within Australia's queer cabaret scene and is passionate about creating high energy performances with her signature style. Behind the scenes, Shamita is also a writer and director, and is popularly consulted for movement direction.
Ida Ghatge is the Co-Creator of Twin Flame and Performer playing the role of Parvati. Ida is a highly specialised dancer and teacher in the Indian dance style; Kathak. With over 20 years of dance experience, she is known for her grace, speed, story telling and rich patterns of footwork and spin sequences. She also has a broad knowledge of various other world dance forms including Indian folk, Classical Fusion, and Bollywood. Ida also has a range of experience in psychology, writing and public speaking as well having completed her honours in Psychology from the University of Melbourne. She volunteers her time with Griefline- a national Australian helpline catered to individuals experiencing the effects of grief,loss, trauma and isolation. She prides her Indian heritage but is passionate about challenging cultural stereotypes, sex based biases and the stigma around mental health in WOC. Learning from her personal struggles, she wishes to empower other women to take charge, and be unapologetically themselves. She aims to become a clinical psychologist as well as use her art to increase awareness about mental illness through film, stage and the practice of dance therapy.
Sunitra Siva is the Creative Director, and Co-Editor for Twin Flame. She has been working in the film industry for six years. Sunitra was first immersed in the creative industry at three years old where she was classically trained in a variety of dance forms and music for over fourteen years, where her creativity, knowledge, and passion for the arts, theatre and performance was born. At the age of seventeen, she studied broadcast media in Singapore for three years, working on producing, directing, and editing. After interning at an advertising production house, editing for Netflix campaigns, she decided to move to the UK and study at the Arts University Bournemouth to pursue her love for filmmaking. During her time there she developed her skills through directing, writing and producing several films. She has just finished a film she directed and co-wrote called "Flesh of My Flesh" and is based in Malaysia working as a cinematographer and marketing executive alongside producing Twin Flame.
Iain Soumitri is our DOP, Project and Social Media Manager, Photographer, and Co-Editor. He is a photographer and filmmaker based in Melbourne, Australia. He recently completed a Bachelor’s in Political Science with a specialisation in Foreign Policy and Middle Eastern Affairs. Iain aims to enter the world of photojournalism and documentary filmmaking to weave his interest in politics and international affairs with his passion for photography and filmmaking. Iain’s 2017 visit to the Barefoot College, in Rajasthan, India, fostered his love for working in rural development and international affairs. This college drafts elderly women from remote communities around the world and trains them to become solar engineers. Iain spent his time creating unique portfolios for the college’s students (‘Solar Mamas’). These portfolios (‘photo novellas’) consisted of photographs and text documenting their experience, providing the students with something to both show to their families, and use as a certification to work as solar engineers to electrify their communities. Iain enjoys his time outside of work playing competitive basketball, taking photographs, and composing music.
Sana Panghal is the film's co-producer, and the founder of Evadere Studios (@evadere_studios). Her vision is to cater to diverse storytelling and cinema in Australia. She migrated here in 2013 and brings to life content that resonates deeply with diverse folks. She’s skilled in film distribution, script writing & story telling.
Sana works in the professional services industry & has previously advocated for people of colour through the POC Collective at Monash Student Association and alongside a team helped coordinate a major South Asian film festival.
Sana works in the professional services industry & has previously advocated for people of colour through the POC Collective at Monash Student Association and alongside a team helped coordinate a major South Asian film festival.