In this Ptenopus Dialogue for Opus #6, themed around the labour of art, we sat down with journalist and filmmaker Kanika Gupta to unpack The Waiting Game—her first documentary, supported by the Pulitzer Center. Released on 9 January 2025, it brings to life the untold struggles of families in Gujarat and Diu caught in the crossfire of maritime border arrests in the troubled waters between India and Pakistan. It sheds light on the lives of those left to pick up the pieces after their loved ones are arrested at sea. Kanika shares first hand stories from the ground, the emotional weight of these separations, and why it’s time to shift the focus from politics to the people living through it. Featuring the tireless work of journalist-activist Jatin Desai, who has long fought for the release of these men, The Waiting Game serves as a poignant reminder of a nation’s blind spots and amplifies unheard voices in a crisis too often reduced to statistics. This conversation delves into the challenges of distilling such a deeply layered issue into a short film, the creative choices that shaped its look and tone, and why these human stories remain largely invisible in mainstream narratives. She also reflects on her journey from journalist to filmmaker, the tensions between the two storytelling approaches, and the hurdles of translating her vision into a visual format. Beyond the Waters offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Waiting Game and the hidden narratives it brings to the forefront. It is now streaming on The Swaddle.
Interviewer & Video Editor: Pritha Mahanti
Ptenopus 