Shanker Raman: On Patriarchy, Redemption & Making Films That Disrupt

In this powerful and reflective episode of The Real Story Podcast, I sit down with filmmaker and cinematographer Shanker Raman, whose storytelling often explores the murky spaces between justice, redemption, violence, and humanity.

We talk about his deep discomfort with being boxed into labels like "truth-teller" and why, after decades in the industry, he’s more interested in what it means to make peace with the irredeemable than in presenting clear answers. We unpack themes of patriarchy, systemic inequality, and emotional complexity, and why art, for him, is not about making statements but about asking better questions.

Shanker speaks about the weight of being an artist in a fractured world, the danger of chasing validation, and what he’d tell any young person trying to “make it” today. This isn’t just a conversation about film, it’s about what it means to be human in a world that often demands certainty but needs nuance.

If you’re someone questioning your purpose, navigating systems bigger than yourself, or trying to hold on to your voice in noisy times, this one’s for you.

Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, actress and writer.

The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.