Diya Suriya Directs Leading Light, Her First Film at 17, Now in Oscar Qualifying Run

Diya Suriya, the 17-year-old daughter of popular Tamil stars Suriya and Jyotika, has made an impressive entry into filmmaking. She directed her first short film, Leading Light, a powerful docu-drama about women gaffers in Bollywood. Her parents produced the film under their banner, 2D Entertainment, giving her a strong start to her career behind the camera.

A Spotlight on Women Gaffers

Leading Light runs for 13 minutes and tells the inspiring stories of three trailblazing women gaffers, Hetall Deddhia, Priyanka Singh, and Leena Gangurde. Gaffers handle lighting on film sets and work closely with cinematographers. Diya’s film shows their struggles, physical challenges, and emotional strength as they built successful careers in a male-dominated industry.

She combines real-life interviews with dramatic recreations, letting audiences experience the determination of women who broke stereotypes to follow their passion. Diya uses a simple yet powerful narrative style to celebrate these women and highlight the contributions of behind-the-scenes crew who rarely receive recognition.

Oscar-Qualifying Screening in Los Angeles

This debut project already makes waves internationally. Leading Light screens at the Regency Theatre in Los Angeles as part of its Oscar Qualifying Run. The theatre plays the short film daily at 12 noon from September 26 to October 2, which makes it eligible for consideration in the Best Documentary Short category at the 2026 Oscars.

Industry insiders and critics praise the film’s fresh perspective and emotional depth, strengthening Diya’s start as a filmmaker.

Proud Parents and Producer Support

Suriya and Jyotika expressed happiness about Diya’s debut. They said they feel proud to support a film that shines a light on the lives of Bollywood’s women gaffers. They believe Leading Light will inspire more young voices to tell important, untold stories from the world of cinema.

Diya Suriya proves her potential as a storyteller with a purpose through this debut. With Leading Light earning international attention, she steps confidently toward building her own identity in the film industry, just like her celebrated parents.

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