The MurthyNAYAK Foundation, which supports documentary work on important social issues, served as a proud sponsor of the seventh annual Washington D.C. South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF), held over the weekend in Rockville, Maryland. This festival provides a platform for outstanding alternative cinema from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka while supporting several local charities that serve the South Asian community.

Among this year’s featured DCSAFF films was the Indian drama 5 Rupya, which generated excitement in the entertainment industry. It also was a favorite of Ms. Murthy’s and Mr. Nayak’s, and they consider it a must-see for the theater-going public, when it is released. The film stars Shabana Azmi, lauded as the “Meryl Streep of India” by festival director Manoj Singh in a recent interview with Culture Spot. Singh went on the praise the film’s director, “… Piyush Panjwani has woven together a beautiful film that captures the essence of Munshi Premchand’s Idgah, a story that’s considered one of the classics in Indian literature.” [See D.C. South Asian Film Festival Returns to Montgomery College-Rockville, by Barbara Trainin Blank, Culture Spot, 04.Sep.2018.]

Those slogging through the rain for this year’s DCSAFF were rewarded with an opportunity to attend a black-tie gala at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, and to listen in on a variety of panel discussion featuring prominent South Asian actors, directors, writers, and producers. Murthy Law Firm founder and president, Sheela Murthy, had the honor of serving as moderator for a discussion on women and gender issues and the importance of diversity and representation in film. In the era of #MeToo, these topics are more important than ever, and Ms. Murthy was proud to be part of such a critical conversation.

Copyright © 2018, MurthyNAYAK Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

The MurthyNAYAK Foundation made a $5000 donation to Franklin High School, in Reisterstown, Maryland, for their moot court competitions. Sheela Murthy and Aron Finkelstein of the Murthy Law Firm met with the principal of Franklin High School, several participants of the student moot court, and President of the Baltimore County Foundation Board, Deborah Phelps, mother of Olympic champion, Michael Phelps.

Close friends of Ms. Murthy, Patricia Lambert and her husband Chris Lambert, donate generously of their time and finances to these high school children, as well, training them for the moot courts and helping with travel expenses for competitions.

Murthy described the impact that her participation in moot court had on her own life. She expressed hope that these students will have similar opportunities to travel and participate in national moot courts with the gift from the MurthyNAYAK Foundation. Franklin High School students are winning at both the regional and national levels, and competing with top private schools, thanks to the team effort of all those who support these kids and believe in them.

Copyright © 2018, MurthyNAYAK Foundation. All Rights Reserved.