National Award-winning actor Manasi Parekh and her husband, singer Parthiv Gohil, are working to bring Gujarati cinema to audiences beyond India. The couple say their goal is to tell stories rooted in Gujarati culture while finding viewers who connect with the emotions, regardless of language.
Parekh described the thinking behind their production banner, Soul Sutra. She said their stories are local, but the feelings within them can travel globally. The couple have produced six films and are now developing international connections for distribution and festivals as part of a broader plan for Gujarati storytelling.
A turning point was Ankit Sakhiya’s Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate. According to Parekh, the film reached audiences in 41 countries. That experience encouraged the couple to look beyond each film’s individual release and build a more consistent route for Gujarati productions to travel overseas.
Local stories with an international audience
Parekh believes changing viewing habits have made audiences more willing to watch stories in unfamiliar languages. She pointed to the popularity of Korean shows in India and the attention received by films from different Indian regions. For her, Gujarati cinema can grow internationally by retaining its language and cultural detail.
The actor said the couple’s production journey has required them to start afresh with each project. Their ambition now includes stronger distribution links and festival connections. She also argued that regional industries often benefit from controlled budgets and stories closely tied to their communities.
Parekh does not see the growing international reach of regional films as a contest with Hindi cinema. She wants Gujarati films to be part of a wider movement in which stories from across India find viewers abroad. Whether an audience knows the language or not, she believes a compelling story can still connect through its characters and emotions.
Kutch Express and the films ahead
The couple’s 2023 film Kutch Express remains an important milestone. It won three National Film Awards, and Parekh received the Best Actress honour, becoming the first Gujarati actor to do so. That recognition strengthened her belief that a film can reach wider audiences while remaining true to where it comes from.
Soul Sutra’s upcoming projects include Nanda Devi, Purple America and Laxman. Parekh and Gohil say the first two have international dimensions, while Laxman is rooted in Gujarati storytelling. Further details about their release plans have yet to be announced.
For the couple, the next step is to turn the international interest they have seen into lasting opportunities for Gujarati filmmakers. Their approach begins with stories from their own culture and seeks to give those stories a path to audiences around the world.
