On the eve of Pakistan’s 70th independence anniversary, we follow the spirited 90 year old guru Indu Mitha, as she prepares for her students’ final performance before she retires. How She Moves pulls back the curtain on her life as one of Pakistan’s few classical dance teachers. We observe her give a feminist and secular spin on classical dance, and see the transformative impact it has on her students.
From Macao to Bolivia, How She Moves has screened at 22 film festivals globally and won 6 Awards, including Best Documentary and Impact Awards.
When we first heard Mrs Indu Mitha was having her final performance, we knew this was a rare moment in our history that had to be captured. At the tender age of 90, Indu’s contribution to preserving ancient classical dance despite a backdrop of growing intolerance and conservatism in Pakistan, is a legacy to be celebrated. As two women filmmakers, it was a privilege to go behind the scenes into the unseen world of dance.
Dress rehearsal before Indu Mitha’s final performance on the eve of Pakistan’s 70th Independence Anniversary
In a conservative tight-knit society such as Pakistan, dance is a misunderstood subject, and women expressing themselves publicly is uncommon. Indu’s journey as one of the few classical dance teachers in the country, challenges stereotypes about Pakistani women that abound both within the country and overseas. How She Moves reflects on the universality of storytelling through dance, and how it can be used to unite communities.
Students do the salaam together at the end of the performance
We now unfortunately live in a time when women’s views, lives, and bodies are a battleground in the so-called clash of civilizations. In a time when vitriol dominates and divides communities all over the world, How She Moves challenges these narratives by telling a universal story of hope and resilience.
Please note this film is not an ethnographic representation, nor meant to exemplify Mrs Mitha’s classical dance style, her innovative subcontinental music or themes, or the performance of her students.
About the Directors
AISHA LINNEA
Director / Director of Photography
Aisha Linnea (co-director / director of photography) is a Pakistani-American filmmaker based in Islamabad. Her work aims to celebrate uniquely Pakistani sub-cultures that don’t fit comfortably within the greater cultural identity. She has been both behind and in front of the camera since the age of nineteen.
Although Aisha’s focus is on direction, writing and cinematography, she has a diverse background in acting, music and production. She has directed shorts, commercials and music videos for local and international clients. Her work has been nominated for multiple Lux Style Awards and has garnered attention from media outlets such as the BBC, the Guardian, MTV, Al-Jazeera, Vice and more.
She has spent the past couple years enjoying the perks of a stable career at a NYC based agency in marketing but is now back in pre-production for a a feature film.
Anya Raza (producer / co-director) a Pakistani-Dutch writer, filmmaker and economist. Moved by the human spirit, Anya works at the nexus of art and justice, and has over a decade of experience telling stories, distilling complex messages and finding commonality in grey areas. Her thought-provoking, poetic and sometimes humorous stories aim to break stereotypes, encourage critical thinking and catalyze change. Anya believes deeply in building community. How She Moves is her directorial debut.
Anya’s stories focus on quieter voices, supporting social justice themes of freedom of expression, economic empowerment, equal rights and humanitarian causes, amongst others.
Her last film Still Here (2022), advocated for support for survivors of torture globally, and received critical acclaim from human rights experts. Anya’s films On The Mountain, Asma and Stars are in post-production. She is also working on her novel – Where The River Meets The Storm.
Anya is a proud member of Brown Girl Doc Mafia, Video Consortium & stand-up comedy troupe Auratnaak.
Anya has an MA in Film & Media Production from American University and an MSc in Economics from the University of Amsterdam.
How She Moves is looking for partners to screen with.
We have developed a “screening in a box experience” with an interactive discussion guide, so that anyone can host a screening! We are partnering with festivals, NGOs, universities and art spaces to bring the film to audiences everywhere.
If you’re interested in a screening, please reach out [email protected] and we’ll organise one together!
Contact
For Screening, Press and other inquiries, please contact:
For all inquiries about Indu Mitha, her dance style and innovations and her students, please contact her senior most disciple and daughter, dancer-choreographer Tehreema Mitha:
