Harish Saluja
Encyclopedia
Harish Saluja is a filmmaker and artist residing in Pittsburgh, United States
. He is the founder and Executive Director of Silk Screen Asian Arts and Cultural Organization, host of “Music from India” radio program, working on his next feature film and creating art for upcoming gallery shows.
. Saluja would ride his bike even in the most extreme weather just so he could watch the newest releases.
Moving to Bombay and studying film was Saluja’s dream as a boy, but instead he settled for the secure path of engineering. He graduated with a degree from the prestigious IIT, Kharagpur and spent the following four years working as an engineer in a mining company.
In 1971 Saluja moved to the United States, where, he believed that in America an artist could undoubtedly flourish. After quickly learning that art doesn’t always buy bread, Saluja headed to Pittsburgh, well known for its steel industry. He was told that this was a place where an engineering degree would be appreciated. He was hired at a publishing company – of which he eventually became co-owner.
. He also acted in various commercials and in the Disney film Money for Nothing
starring John Cusack
.
In 1995 he established New Ray Films . Its first film was The Journey (1997) - which he wrote, directed, produced and also acted in a small role. The film is a Comedy/drama chronicling the cultural and generational shock of a retired Indian headmaster who comes to the U.S. to visit his physician son and American daughter-in-law. The film starred Roshan Seth
and Saeed Jaffrey
, two extremely talented Indian actors who were appearing together for the first time after Gandhi (film)
(1982) and My Beautiful Laundrette
(1985).
The Journey premiered at the Seattle Film Festival in 1997 and was screened in over 20 festivals nationwide. It won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Florida Film Festival
and the Best Independent Film award at the Cleveland Film Festival. The film also had a wide release in theaters across India.
Critics praised Saluja’s first film. In Variety
, Emanuel Levy wrote:
"technically accomplished directorial debut from Harish Saluja this nicely executed cross-cultural, cross-generational seriocomedy deserves to be seen on the big screen, particularly in cities with Indian (and other immigrant) communities."
Driven by the subject matter and message his film delivers, Saluja stated to the India Post:
"Even though India has the largest filmmaking industry, there have been very few filmmakers of stature among the Indian immigrants. I feel that we – the Indian community – should make films about Indians in America."
Saluja has discussed his passion for telling stories about Indian Americans in many interviews. He believes that it is up to the visionaries of this community to get their stories told.
In addition to making films, Saluja has also shared his knowledge by teaching courses through the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh
.
Currently Saluja is working on two films.
. Harry Schwalb of ARTnews
described Saluja's style, writing:
"Saluja sees the music's endless patterns – which evolve simultaneously in repetitively strummed layers of tone and rhythm – as like colored threads, woven by the performer into a musical carpet."
Saluja’s work has been showcased at various galleries in USA and Europe.
affiliate, WDUQ-FM. The program has been airing since 1972 and is one of WDUQ's longest-running programs. It is the longest-running Indian music program in the country and among the longest in the world.
His work as a radio host has made Saluja well known in the Indian community around Pittsburgh. He is often asked to emcee various community events and festivities.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is the founder and Executive Director of Silk Screen Asian Arts and Cultural Organization, host of “Music from India” radio program, working on his next feature film and creating art for upcoming gallery shows.
Early life
Saluja was raised in India’s northwest state of Punjab. Growing up, he had a passion for art. His mother, a singer, exposed him to classical Indian music. He was fascinated by film, especially the work of filmmaker of Satyajit RaySatyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
. Saluja would ride his bike even in the most extreme weather just so he could watch the newest releases.
Moving to Bombay and studying film was Saluja’s dream as a boy, but instead he settled for the secure path of engineering. He graduated with a degree from the prestigious IIT, Kharagpur and spent the following four years working as an engineer in a mining company.
In 1971 Saluja moved to the United States, where, he believed that in America an artist could undoubtedly flourish. After quickly learning that art doesn’t always buy bread, Saluja headed to Pittsburgh, well known for its steel industry. He was told that this was a place where an engineering degree would be appreciated. He was hired at a publishing company – of which he eventually became co-owner.
Work in Film
Saluja began working in film as Associate producer on Tony Buba’s No Pets (1994) and then as the executive producer of Dog Eat DogDog Eat Dog
-Film and television:* Dog Eat Dog , a 2001 UK film* Dog Eat Dog , a 2007 Colombian film by director Carlos Moreno* Dog Eat Dog Films, a production company operated by Michael Moore...
. He also acted in various commercials and in the Disney film Money for Nothing
Money for Nothing (film)
Money for Nothing is a 1993 comedy/crime film directed by Ramón Menéndez. It is based on the life of Joey Coyle, an unemployed longshoreman in Philadelphia who, in February 1981, found $1.2 million in the middle of the street after it had fallen out of the back of an armored car. The screenplay,...
starring John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
.
In 1995 he established New Ray Films . Its first film was The Journey (1997) - which he wrote, directed, produced and also acted in a small role. The film is a Comedy/drama chronicling the cultural and generational shock of a retired Indian headmaster who comes to the U.S. to visit his physician son and American daughter-in-law. The film starred Roshan Seth
Roshan Seth
Roshan Seth is an Indian-born British actor, who appears mainly in British and American films. He is known for his critically acclaimed performances in the films Gandhi, Mississippi Masala, Not Without My Daughter, My Beautiful Laundrette, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Such a Long...
and Saeed Jaffrey
Saeed Jaffrey
Saeed Jaffrey OBE is an Indian-born British actor, who has done numerous British movies. He was born in Malerkotla, Punjab...
, two extremely talented Indian actors who were appearing together for the first time after Gandhi (film)
Gandhi (film)
Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. They both...
(1982) and My Beautiful Laundrette
My Beautiful Laundrette
My Beautiful Laundrette is a 1985 British comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay by Hanif Kureishi. The story is set in London during the period when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as shown through the complex—and often comical—relationships...
(1985).
The Journey premiered at the Seattle Film Festival in 1997 and was screened in over 20 festivals nationwide. It won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Florida Film Festival
Florida Film Festival
The Florida Film Festival, produced by Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, is an annual international film festival. Showcasing the best American independent and foreign films, the festival has become one of the most respected regional film events in the United States.-Overview:The Festival...
and the Best Independent Film award at the Cleveland Film Festival. The film also had a wide release in theaters across India.
Critics praised Saluja’s first film. In Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, Emanuel Levy wrote:
"technically accomplished directorial debut from Harish Saluja this nicely executed cross-cultural, cross-generational seriocomedy deserves to be seen on the big screen, particularly in cities with Indian (and other immigrant) communities."
Driven by the subject matter and message his film delivers, Saluja stated to the India Post:
"Even though India has the largest filmmaking industry, there have been very few filmmakers of stature among the Indian immigrants. I feel that we – the Indian community – should make films about Indians in America."
Saluja has discussed his passion for telling stories about Indian Americans in many interviews. He believes that it is up to the visionaries of this community to get their stories told.
In addition to making films, Saluja has also shared his knowledge by teaching courses through the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
Currently Saluja is working on two films.
Art career
In addition to his work in film, Saluja has produced many works of abstract art that combine vivid colors and musical patterns. He has created series based on Ragas and on jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. Harry Schwalb of ARTnews
ARTnews
ARTnews is an arts magazine based in New York, founded by James Clarence Hyde in 1902 as Hyde’s Weekly Art News. It is published 11 times a year.ARTnews covers all art, from ancient to Post-modernism...
described Saluja's style, writing:
"Saluja sees the music's endless patterns – which evolve simultaneously in repetitively strummed layers of tone and rhythm – as like colored threads, woven by the performer into a musical carpet."
Saluja’s work has been showcased at various galleries in USA and Europe.
Radio Work
Saluja co-hosts the weekly radio program "Music From India," which runs every Sunday night on the NPRNPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
affiliate, WDUQ-FM. The program has been airing since 1972 and is one of WDUQ's longest-running programs. It is the longest-running Indian music program in the country and among the longest in the world.
His work as a radio host has made Saluja well known in the Indian community around Pittsburgh. He is often asked to emcee various community events and festivities.