Somy Ali Productions Launches with a Powerful Message on Mental Health Awareness Featuring Short Film “Sparkle” and Hindi Version “Chamak” to Amplify the Fight Against Depression

Humanitarian and former Bollywood actress Somy Ali is proud to announce the launch of Somy Ali Productions, a bold new platform dedicated to addressing urgent social issues through powerful storytelling. The production house’s debut films, Sparkle and its Hindi counterpart Chamak, are emotional narratives designed to raise awareness about mental health and the silent battles many face, even among those in the limelight. Somy says that she has dedicated the films to her mother and also to actress Deepika Padukone.

She said, “My mother has suffered from depression since I was four or five years old, and her mother did too. It was generational, and instead of getting her help, people would call her moody, and she would be beaten. As for Deepika, I don’t have adequate words to describe her courage in being so open about something that is intangible to most people.”

She went on to say that depression is like a nasty incision that can never be stitched up, and revealed that it was because of Deepika that she decided to make her first short film about depression.

She further said, “Additionally, I have a master’s in psychology and worked in a mental institution for six months prior to graduating. During that time, I saw and understood a great deal about various mental ailments. It was a prerequisite to work there in order to obtain my degree. I have witnessed how people are left to fend for themselves and shunned, even in America.”

“This reminded me of an interview where Deepika talked about having suicidal thoughts and not understanding why. It was then that her mother helped her seek help, and she was diagnosed with depression and prescribed medication. The same happened with my mom in America. One can function completely well with the right medication. However, it must be openly discussed and acknowledged,” she added.

Somy has attended three film schools, and the short film genre appealed to her as the most challenging. Going forward, she plans to release one short film every 15 days. She shared, “It’s financially feasible, and I can perform, produce, edit, write, and direct my own scripts on subjects that make people uncomfortable. I am also connecting with local agencies to cast actors who can’t seem to get a break because they don’t have any contacts in the film industry or Broadway plays.”

She already has another script with her, which is about a Muslim girl living in America who has been in a relationship with another girl for two years. Talking more about the film, she said, “The issue is that her partner is American, and there is a significant conflict for the Muslim girl in showing public displays of affection and telling her parents that she’s gay. This lack of support from her partner causes tension, and Tabassum (my character’s name) has to decide how to handle the situation.”

Asked how she is managing to make short films with NMT, she said, “I finally have two interns: one is our board member’s daughter, and the other is a psychology student. All college students must complete 390 hours of internships in order to graduate. Over the past 17 years running NMT, I’ve had many interns come and go. Also, in between court hearings, I find time to write scripts in my notebook since the judges often take a long time due to their heavy caseloads.”

“I have already covered depression and the LGBTQ community. I plan to explore many more subjects, including the caste system. I’m currently in talks with a Vogue model from the Dalit caste to appear on my talk show, The Somy Ali Show. My short films and talk shows can be found on my website (SomyAliProductions.com). The first film, Chamak, will be available for free, but moving forward, viewers will need to donate $10 to No More Tears. The link will be directly connected to my NGO’s bank account, and only after donating will they be able to watch the talk show or my short films,” she ended.