Jani Vishwanath | Filmmaker | India

Jani Viswanath, an artist, humanitarian, and philanthropist, is also a writer, motivational speaker, and filmmaker. Born into a South Indian Brahmin family in India, Jani spent her childhood in Afghanistan. Her diverse cultural exposure, shaped by her educationist and diplomat parents, profoundly influenced her personal growth and artistic sensibilities.

Fluent in six languages and holding a Ph.D. in management and brand analysis, Jani’s corporate career spanned nearly two decades in retail and brand development.

Inspired by her extensive global travel and multicultural experiences, that included collaborations with renowned retail brands in the Middle East, Jani abandoned her corporate life to establish HEALING LIVES, a self-funded charity dedicated to giving back to society in various ways.

Her literary work Echoes of Light, is a collection of short stories and poems inspired by her encounters and experiences during her travels.

Jani’s unique style of painting with knives and blades on oils has been showcased in solo exhibitions with Bentley Emirates and World Art Dubai and featured in numerous publications.

Producer

Jani’s foray into filmmaking was driven by a desire to provide a platform for independent artists to express creativity and convey socially relevant messages. She has released several niche films from North East India that focus on social issues and have garnered numerous awards. Jani’s motivation to produce films stems from her belief in supporting independent talent whose work embodies raw creativity and social relevance, rather than succumbing to commercial demands.

She views film as a universal medium that transcends boundaries and selects talented directors, often women who face challenges in securing financial backing. Jani does not measure the success of her films by their commercial performance; instead, she values the impact and resonance they have on the audiences.

Her filmography includes Xhoixobote Dhemalite (Rainbow Fields) (2018), directed by Bidyut Kotoky; Jwlwi The Seed (2019), directed by Rajni Basumatary; Andro Dreams (2022), directed by Meena Longjam; and Gorai Phakhri (Wild Swans) (2023), directed by Rajni Basumatary. Her latest film, shot in Manipur, is currently in post-production.