Desipina & Co. have been growing strong with great acknowledgement from the mainstream community and support from not only the South Asian community, but the entire Asian community in the States for over five years now. With the arrival of 2007, as they celebrated their 5th anniversary, their plans for the year are larger than ever. We talk to one of the co-founders, Rohi Mirza Pandya, about Desipina, her involvement in the film Hiding Divya and more.

Khalid Ilahi: First of all Rohi, congrats on making five full years with Desipina. I'm glad it has stuck through time, just as it did in my memory from the first time I saw it years ago. Why don't you tell our readers a bit about why you started Desipina and who is behind it. Where did the original idea come from, and the name? Give us the background dish!
Rohi Mirza Pandya: My sister Rehana and I co-founded Desipina Productions in late December 2001. It was a tough struggle at first. We had been producing with another South Asian-only theater company. However, due to artistic and producing differences we were forced to leave the company in order to put up Rehana's first play, Barriers. The play was reviewed by mainstream press, including the New York Times, and went on to be co-produced with us by the renowned Asian American Theatre Company in San Francisco. Many, many productions later, we are now the only South Asian and Asian American theater & film company in NYC. For five full seasons Desipina & Company has consistently bridged the gap between the Asian and South Asian communities with their exciting, new work.

"We feel that through our work we can create change."

KI: Over the years, many people have been given a great platform with Desipina to express their craft, whether it be acting or writing or anything to do with the arts. What has been the most rewarding experience you've had in giving someone an opportunity?
RMP: The most satisfying experience has been to see how the Desipina family has grown. We have countless volunteers, artists, and a core team of working minds-behind-the-scenes. What started off as a passion of two siblings is now a shared vision of a dedicated team who all want to create change through their work. Jessica Bhargava (Creative Associate), Meetu Chilana (Company Manager), Nilou Moochhala (Graphic Designer), Enayet Rasul (Technical Supervisor), Rowena Harry (Producing Associate), and Rakesh Chaudhary (Producing Associate) all donate their skills, energy, and time to Desipina to keep it functioning. Even though each and every person working on Desipina already has a full-time job to pay the bills, all of them seem to find time to continue creating and bringing Desipina events to countless audience members around NYC.

KI: Desipina focuses on some tough issues in our community, dealing with arranged marriages to the backlash from 9/11 and everything in between. Why do you feel the need to maintain such a "serious" focus in your work?
RMP: We feel that through our work we can create change. It's as simple as that. While there is a serious focus, we still maintain humor and a human interest side to all the work we produce.

KI: Why not keep things light hearted, what are some of the more "light" or comedic subjects you've dealt with and why?
RMP: For our light side, we have conceptualized and produced the award-winning & popular Seven.11 Convenience Theatre series, which will have its annual run in Manhattan and Queens this year. With the Seven.11 series, Desipina will have produced 35 short plays in 5 years, providing a legitimate platform for countless young actors, writers and directors. Last year, three of the Seven.11 writers, one of which was a first time playwright, were nominated for the New York Innovative Theatre Award, an award that celebrates some of the best theatre happening in New York. Desipina took home the award with the short play, "Jaffna Mangoes."

KI: In all of the plays and projects you've worked on in the last five years, what would you say has been your most challenging? Most rewarding?
RMP: Every project has its challenges and rewards, however, I think our first play, Barriers was both challenging and rewarding in a special way. Producing on the one year anniversary of 9/11 in New York City was very emotional. We will never forget the experience.

KI: Desipina has become a cultural icon for the entire Asian community, if there was one statement you'd like to make to this large and diverse group, what would it be?
RMP: By continuing to work together, we can create change and bridge the gap.

KI: Besides being involved with Desipina, what else do you dedicate your time to?
RMP: We even decided to take on even more than just Desipina this past year, with shooting our first feature film, Hiding Divya. Rehana wrote and directed; and I produced. Back when Rehana was studying screenwriting at NYU, a friend of mine asked for us to bring to light the issue of mental illness within the South Asian community. She knew about the type of social work we do through theatre and film, and felt that this was an issue that could be right up our alley. The concept was brought to Sundance Producer's Lab by myself, and then some time later the script was written. Based off the script, Madhur Jaffrey agreed to play the title character, Divya. Pooja Kumar was brought on board to play Linny, and Deep Katdare agreed to play Ravi, the love interest. Some of Desipina's 'family' got involved as well. Nilou did the website/graphic design and Meetu sang the original song to the movie, "Lost." We just had a successful run with the film going on tour with the international film festival circuit and its received great feedback.

KI: What are you currently working on? What can we expect to see from Desipina in the coming years?
RMP: 2007 is going to be a BIG year for Desipina. March 29th we will have our Seven.11 Convenience Theatre 2007, Celebrating Five Years! Tickets for that are on sale now. June 11-17 Suzan-Lori Parks, Desipina had the honor of being invited as one of the 52 theater companies in NYC to produce Suzan-Lori Parks plays with the Public. In September, we will be doing "Ravi Kapoor's The Prince of Delhi Palace." So a lot going on...

KI: That really is a BIG year Rohi and we wish you a lot of luck. Do you have any final messages for our readers?
RMP: Yes, everyone can check out and join Desipina by visiting our website at www.Desipina.org. Join our mailing list, Volunteer your time and donate some money... anything helps.

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