SIRAJ JHAVERI//DIRECTOR

For over 30 years, Siraj has been directing all over the globe, capturing compelling insightful stories with a genuine voice.

A graduate of Fine Art from the Rhode Island School of Design, Siraj started his career in directing documentaries where his deeply personal film “Ma Baap”, tells the story of his wealthy Hindu Brahmin mother and destitute Muslim father as they sacrifice everything for a secret elopement – all amidst the backdrop of religious riots in 1960s Mumbai. The film won numerous Asian American festivals and was screened at the IFFM in New York which landed him an offer to work at MTV in the vaunted On-Air Promotions department.

Working his way up the corporate ladder and winning awards for his commercials, Siraj’s work was soon noticed by Judy McGrath, then president of MTV, and was promoted to launch MTV India, in Mumbai. There, he created iconic image campaigns which garnered a Cannes nomination and India’s coveted Abby award for Brand of The Year (first ever for a TV channel).

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By the late 90s, Siraj’s music driven style got the attention of the international music scene in Europe. In 1999, Siraj collaborated with Wanda Productions and F-Comm in France to create a 9-minute short film for the legendary Techno DJ, Laurent Garnier for the song, “The Man With The Red Face”.

The film, shot in the streets of Mumbai India, became an all-time cult classic and won numerous awards which launched Siraj’s career in France where he was lauded as one of the top French directors shaping the French New Wave by the French Director’s Guild, Sacem.

In 2004, Siraj shot and directed his first feature length documentary for French TV on the highly anticipated world tour of Louise Attaque. The Rockumentary, “Si C’Etait Hier” captures rare moments of the inner dynamic of the band as they travel and perform live through India, South America and Russia.

By 2005 Siraj was represented by @radicalmedia for commercials and The Gersh Agency for features. Siraj’s captivating work in India got the attention of Darren Aronofsky, who collaborated with Siraj on the feature film project “Song of Kali” based on the novel by Dan Simmons. Later that year, Siraj was accepted for a one-year stint as the only director to learn alongside the legendary acting coach, Wynn Handman at the American Place Theater in New York City.

Currently, Siraj has completed writing and directing two documentaries as part of a series for Getty Images, focusing on the untold stories unearthed from rare archival photos of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America.

He is also in production with Getty Images on two short documentaries “A Simple Word” telling the story of the struggle for human rights in America through the eyes of the LGBTQ community and “Women Are The Solution” focusing on the powerful link of gender and climate in the environmental debate.

Siraj works worldwide and resides in New York and Dubai with his wife and daughter.