DIDIHOOD ~ Issue 14

Happy April! This month is special for us, as April 19th marks one year since our launch party in Toronto. Can you believe it? It still feels pretty unreal for us too. As March came to a close, we held our first high school workshop at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute in Toronto. We met with 60 amazing students who attended the school's annual Girls Conference and chatted with them about the importance of representation in creative industries as well as finding the right career path. 

Meet the Didis: 
This month meet Thurka Gunaratnam, a freelance filmmaker, digital content creator and host and founder of the New Normal comedy show. New Normal is a monthly comedy show representing comics who identify as women, as well as immigrants, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and allies. Thurka is the creator and host, and the next show is just a few days away on April 6 in Toronto. Get your tickets here. 

What inspired you to pursue a career as a filmmaker and comedian? 
I film because I love being creative through both artistic and technical tools to tell stories, regardless of the platform/medium. As a child I thrived in the arts and was dancing, singing and public speaking by the time I was four years old, and this continued well past university (except instead of a stage, I would produce for clients in TV/web/brand or myself on YouTube or IG, etc.). Even through refugee/displacement and poverty, my parents made it a priority to volunteer with Tamil community organizations to provide access for me and my sister to the arts and performance: they both sing, dance and are trained vocally/instrumentally. This is how Tamil people resisted and built solidarity when Sri Lanka's civil war continuously took the lives of our oppressed minority race, they sang and healed through community or straight up resisted through advocacy/activism. Through stand-up comedy and content I produce, I have more agency to tell the stories I want and I curate spaces with or without a camera that invite underrepresented people to be themselves unapologetically. We are often policed as marginalized people in our communities, homes or by systems that hold power. This now inspires me to create for me and for other underrepresented people. 

You're a big proponent of diversity and inclusivity in your work. What challenges have you faced as a WOC working in a creative field?  
Marginalized people regardless of race or the sex assigned at birth continue to lack representations through inclusive and/or equitable access. We face challenges because colonization, patriarchy and heteronormative spaces continue to take up space. I'm a cis woman who endured lifelong bullying and childhood trauma and I am used to having thick skin. My resilience is necessary to self sustain. Thus when people come across intimidated by my cinematography, directing, producing, writing, vlogging or stand-up comedy, the entrepreneur in me usually shrugs it off or unpacks the microaggressions with supportive friends or my therapist. A lot of what I do creatively as a human is questioned or enormously celebrated based on boxes created by social/gender norms. As a result I now look at the challenges as opportunities to create not just through film and screen-based value, but through comedy, public speaking and any medium that encourages communities to continue accepting diversity (especially through solidarity). That's where my heart is and has been for a long time, activism can take form through our creativity and it helps systematically oppressed groups heal. 

What advice do you have for younger Didis who are looking to pursue a similar career? 
In Tamil, our version of Didi is "Akka" for big sister and "Thangatchi" for little sister. What I'd tell anyone reading this is that you came into this world most likely making some noise, and as women we are told to not make noise, but I encourage you to be loud. Especially by harnessing our own voice and creating the content that we want to better the communities we live in. Practise self-affirmations, practise self-love and be kind to yourself. You've always had it in you to be whatever you want. You are enough with all that you are right now and the biggest obstacle is fear of failure. Trying and failing is the key to success, in fact failure is the opportunity to build from it and have further growth. If you want to be a filmmaker, make films, don't wait for permission, make it on your phone, borrow a camera and just start. I couldn't afford my first camera until I was well into my 20s. The gear doesn't need to be perfect, the power in storytelling is creating with intention. 

How did New Normal come about? 
I wanted to have "one" show celebrating diversity inclusive of Tamil and non-Tamil comedians with a portion of ticket sales going to an NGO. The first show sold out in less than 48 hours. It was supposed to be one show and now seven months later, it is still selling out. I welcome new comics who have never tried stand-up before, and free tickets are set aside for anyone who can't access the show. I think New Normal is successful for the same reason my vlog "How I learned to love my Dark Skin" went viral. Progressive audiences like diversity they can understand especially through laughter. In February, American/Tamil Sri Lankan comic D'Lo headlined New Normal and his humour, as a trans comedian and activist, left the audience in awe. Every month, the Toronto community is showing up, buying tickets, allowing us to be invested in the arts. To date, New Normal has seen more than 40 diverse comedians who are women, from the LGBTQI2S+ community, non-gender conforming, African Canadian and Caribbean, Indigenous, immigrants and those with disabilities. Each show celebrates comics, drag queens (and drag kinds to come!) and/or sketch groups. People in my life are extremely committed to New Normal and I love them dearly for helping me grow through this experience. 

What can people look forward to at the April show? 
The next show is Saturday, April 6 (hurry and grab a ticket, sales have begun)! The lineup includes diversity that will rock your inclusive socks, featuring a wealth of comedians killing it in Toronto and across festivals globally like JFL. The following show is on May 4, and they both take place at 120 Diner in Toronto. Owner Mandy Goodhandy is a transwoman supportive of diversity and is excited to have New Normal hosted there. It's special to have venues like The Office Pub, Social Capital, JCB at Second City and Bad Dog Theatre welcome New Normal Comedy and be courteous to those who attend. You can expect to laugh so hard that your cheeks will hurt. 

What other projects do you have in the works for 2019? 
I am excited for 2019 because of the support I am getting emotionally, mentally and spiritually from my loved ones and community. This year I am pitching TV shows, writing pilots and web series, producing my own comedy special, acting and continuing to create video content for my @thurka brand and clients. I will release a sketch this month around the theme of "If women cat called" (a working title). It is hilarious and will be on my YouTube channel. On the flip side, I directed and am editing a heartfelt, honest conversation on what it means to be a Tamil woman speaking with other creators/actors/activists/models (Sharan Guru and Reesh) on how challenging it has been to live unapologetic lives without being constantly policed thanks to patriarchy. New Normal is growing and news will be out before summer on that, but what I can share is that New Normal will be a part of a large Toronto street festival this summer, and that's not all! New Normal merch pre-order is also available now. I have a short documentary coming out later this year on my experiences visiting and teaching in the homeland (last year an NGO flew me out to teach Tamil journalists how to film and create podcasts). Brands like Joby Inc. were very supportive and helped provide resources to my Tamil community back home. Essentially 2019 is stacked between comedy, diversity and taking up more space in the outdoors (did I mention I camp alone to conquer my own fears?). The best way to find out what's next is by following me on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and on my website, www.thurka.ca. 

What we're reading: 
Didi Gurpreet Kaur Ahluwalia was featured in the Globe and Mail's 2019 Best-Dressed list. We've been admiring her style and creative approach to fashion for some time now, and are glad to see her gain some recognition for it! 

Flare just launched a new series called Single Ladies, and we just read Sadaf Ahsan's incredibly relatable piece on interracial dating. 

What we're watching: 
A new webseries on YouTube called Muslim Girls DTF (Discuss Their Faith) launched last week on International Muslim Women's Day. The series was created and produced by Aizzah Fatima and Atheer Yacoub who were tired of the way Muslim women were commonly portrayed in mainstream media, and the lack of involvement from Muslim women in creating these characters. 

Over on Amazon Prime Video, a new series called Made In Heaven chronicles the lives of two wedding planners in Delhi. The series is created, directed and performed by South Asians, and marks Amazon's fourth fictional Indian original series. 

Upcoming Events: 

Didihood has teamed up with 5X Fest for an event in Vancouver this May. We can't release too many details just yet, but we are looking for some remarkable older South Asian women who have a story to share. We are looking for stories that are often lost under the responsibilities of being a good mother, good daughter, or a good spouse. Participants must be comfortable doing a short interview and having their photo taken. Email [email protected] if you're interested in being part of this project! 

-- Nikkjit Gill 

Issue 14
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