Kolkata girl Sriyanka Ray, a stellar filmmaker and journalist, the proud recipient of an Emmy Award and 12 Emmy nominations, was a visionary on a mission to shake things up and make a positive mark on the world. But her journey was cut short by her untimely death last year.
Friends and family gathered at a programme in her hometown on December 29 to celebrate the enduring powerhouse that Sriyanka will forever be.
After graduating from La Martiniere for Girls, Sriyanka found her niche at Presidency College, where she founded Stage Fright, the college's first drama club. There, she introduced interactive theatre and the expression of resistance through creative means, laying the groundwork for her filmmaking style. In 2012, Sriyanka moved to New York, her home for over 11 years, and earned a Master's in Media Studies from The New School. Shortly after, she joined BRIC, a Brooklyn-based media organisation, where she created impactful content at the intersection of journalism, film, and social change.
A Slytherin with the courage of a Gryffindor, an Aquarius with the spirit of a Sagitarrius, Sriyanka, truly was a phenomenon to reckon with. Always the coolest cat in the room, she was naturally the ring leader of any pack — many packs across the world. Sriyanka, with the tenacity of a protective tigress, gave back to her communities in Kolkata and New York, driven by an unwavering belief in the existence of goodness and the assurance that help is always available for those in need.
A powerhouse of talent, a voice for the community
Sriyanka Ray, an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, recipient of an Emmy Award and a visionary who wanted to change the world Courtesy Sanjana Ray
In 2016, Sriyanka directed and produced the documentary, The Sweatshop of Wall Street, which investigated corruption in a New York City (NYC) direct sales and marketing company with two whistleblowers. The film was a finalist in the 2017 South Asian Journalists Association Awards.
In her 2019 documentary, The Database, Sriyanka partnered with defence attorneys and activists to unveil the NYPD’s secret gang database. This prompted thousands of New Yorkers to file FOIL requests to check if their names were listed, and the video is now a key component of Legal Aid NYC’s ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops.
Her film, Highway Mike, depicting a former homeless addict engaged in outreach work to prevent overdoses, aired on PBS for two years, while her recent documentary, The Mothers of Flatbush, centred on Brooklyn mothers affected by gun violence and accidental shootings, gained recognition in The Guardian. In 2022, she produced the Emmy-nominated film Crossroads, directed by Sarita Khurana, which aired on PBS/WORLD channel, exploring the tragic mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis that claimed nine lives.
Sriyanka launched and managed #BHeard, a documentary unit producing short films on race, immigration, and criminal justice, and managed BRIC Lab Film & TV, fostering opportunities for filmmakers. Committed to community empowerment, she introduced #BHeardAmplified, merging free media classes with live events for social change, and created Straight Up, a monthly series reimagining the reporters’ roundtable with journalists discussing news topics over drinks at a Brooklyn bar.
In addition to receiving 12 New York Emmy nominations, an Emmy win, a Telly award, an Ippie award, and funding for her work from The National Endowment for the Arts, The Doris Duke Foundation, Lincoln Center, and The Rockefeller Foundation, Sriyanka shared her expertise by teaching investigative video journalism classes at The New School, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC. She was also awarded Artist of the Highest Honour by the State of New York.
Last year (2023), Sriyanka was working on her debut feature film, The Vanishing Island, depicting villagers in Ghoramara, a small island in the Sunderbans, resisting evacuation despite the imminent threat of disappearance due to climate change, when tragically, life’s momentum was abruptly stilled, leaving behind the echoes of achievements unfulfilled. When Sriyanka left us too soon in May due to altitude sickness while in Bolivia, people from around the world came together to mourn her loss.
Sriyanka's legacy lives on. Singer-songwriter Ali Sethi dedicated Chandni Raat to her at his New York concert, American-Indian Rapper Rajakumari acknowledged her impact, and the warm memorials organised by BRIC drew hundreds. Her cherished filmmaking communities, The Bitchitra Collective and Brown Girls Doc Mafia, have come together to launch a grant supporting women and non-binary filmmakers in crafting impactful stories of social change.
Tribute to a legacy that lives on
Sriyanka’s father, (left) Dr. Raja Ray, and sister, Sanjana Ray, shared fond memories of Sriyanka in Sriyanka's way Soumyajit Dey Soumyajit Dey
On December 29, within the dimly lit auditorium of Birla Academy of Art and Culture, with a beaming picture of Sriyanka taking centre stage, friends and family paid tribute true to her distinctive style — filled with laughter, music, and unity.
The tribute began with Sriyanka's father, Dr. Raja Ray, taking the mic to address the gathering, followed by a family friend and actor, Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, delving into her beautiful whirlwind of a life. Her sister, Sanjana, penned a heartfelt poem for her. Friends and family stepped up on the tightrope of memories, holding back lumps in their throats.
Actor Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, who is a dear family friend, shared a look into Sriyanka’s life, which though short was beautiful and fulfilling Soumyajit Dey
She was adored, each memory a brushstroke of joy on the canvas of every life she brushed against. Snippets of her work were shown, and video messages from her friends came in pouring plenty. Songs were dedicated to her, songs were written for her, songs were sung for her. Such was she cherished.
Sriyanka's friends and family gathered at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture auditorium to honour her and commemorate her legacy Soumyajit Dey
I was merely watching, not knowing Sriyanka, but the love in the room painted a clear picture — her life touched everyone with splashes of love and joy.
I had a dream the other day
Where my sister came to say
Life is cyclical, you know, like a ring
So don’t you ever forget to sing
Songs of heartbreak, love, loss and joy
That bittersweet feeling of giving up your favourite toy
How do you go on without half your soul?
The baby sister who’s always carried a role
Who’s Magic Masala will I now steal?
How do we now squabble over a meal?
The hand I clasp in turbulent flights
My forever favourite cuddle pillow for the night
Who will now tell me she’s always right
How do I live without my light?
But like you’ve always said
Remember me by the joy I spread
The presence that lights up a room
A legacy always in full bloom
I imagine you now, dancing on the moon
Making even her dance to your merry tune
The head of the table in every home
I can just hear it now — “I’m everywhere Rome”
I know you’re here today
And there’s plenty you want to say
So I’ll say it for you
I carry your heart, Didi. Bhootu loves you.
– Sanjana Ray