Atin Mehra was born and raised in Varanasi, India and currently resides with his family in Los Angeles, CA. In 1999, Atin picked up his first camera and began taking photographs. Atin's uncanny ability to connect with individuals from behind the lens eventually led him into filmmaking. His own personal struggles with abuse and discrimination in India drew him to stories of underrepresented and marginalized individuals and communities.

One of the first films he worked on was about female victims of dowry burnings – a project he was forced to abandon when he started receiving death threats. In 2002, Atin directed and shot his first short film, Mitti Ke Jivan (The Cycle of Clay) about a potter from the Kumhar caste. Atin lived and worked in India until 2005, when he moved to the United States with his wife, Mae Thornton Mehra. In 2007 he started his own production company, Orange Kite Productions.  Atin and Mae are co-directing another feature documentary film, Her Song, which is currently in post-production. Being Michelle is Atin’s directorial debut.

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FILM

Being Michelle

PROGRAM AFFILIATION

Impact Campaign Fund

COHORT YEAR

2022

WEBSITE

beingmichelle.com