This is the first of a three-part interview. Zee is a medical doctor by training which is quite a feat, but we will begin our discussion by talking about Bicycle Bride. We’ll cover Zee’s medical history in part two and conclude our conversation by learning about what inspired him to become a filmmaker in part three.
WD: What is Bicycle Bride about?
Zee: Bicycle Bride is about Beena, a rebellious young woman who’s family still clings to its “old school” beliefs. Beena pursues her dreams of freedom but her mother wants to arrange Beena’s marriage and future. The movie is about the inherent conflicts present in Beena’s life as an Indian American.
WD: Why did you want to tell this specific story?
Zee: There is no dating in all Muslim cultures. Bicycle Bride is a story that millions of Muslim women deal with. While American women have over thirty-one flavors to choose from, Muslim women are chosen for. There are even still arranged marriages in the United States (U.S.). Muslim parents in the U.S. are more scared that their kids will become Americanized and lose their cultural values. Parents are very protective, especially of their daughters. They will even import guys from “back home” to marry their daughters in the U.S.
I have four sisters, three of whom are currently married. When an Indian or Pakistani girl turns twenty, the mother “has a burden on her head” to find a match for her daughters. My sisters are smart and pretty, but my mother had quite a challenging time finding husbands for them. We saw different families coming into our house, visiting my sisters and putting them out like trophies at an auction. Think thumbs up or thumbs down with Siskel & Ebert or a similar hand gesture from Gladiator. The cultural equivalent for Americans would be the NFL draft! I wanted to tell this very personal story about the process Muslim women must go through along with the inevitable rejections that such a process brings to find their second “God” on earth, aka a husband.
WD: What are some of the cultural issues you definitely wanted to highlight in Bicycle Bride?
Zee: Bicycle Bride’s key themes are: arranged marriages, resistance to interracial relationships, gender roles and freedom. Specifically with respect to gender, men make decisions for women. Girls are supposed to be married off by a certain age. Mothers play a central role in this process and selecting extended families. Who else would you trust with a dowry?
WD: Was it important that Bicycle Bride was filmed in San Francisco?
Zee: I’ve lived in San Francisco for twelve years. It’s a beautiful, multi-cultural city where you can experience small neighborhoods where people from all over the world have settled. Many folks from various parts of the world call San Francisco home even though they still cling to traditional values and cultural heritages that have prevented full integration. There is a large Bay Area Muslim population. Arranged marriages continue to this day, even in San Francisco.
WD: How did you select the actors?
Zee: It was a painstaking process. Think America’s Next Top Model! I interviewed hundreds of girls. We received resumes and headshots from actors all over the country. Even our production wasn’t immune to some of the cultural issues we cover in the film. One Indian actress from Los Angeles was recently married and wanted to show the script to her husband. The husband reviewed it and said, “NO, YOU CAN”T DO THIS FILM!!!”
Beena had to end her relationship because her Indian dentist boyfriend would not let her do the movie. He probably had too much Novocain or laughing gas and forgot just how lucky he was to have a girl like her.Both of these actresses were American born. It was very important to me that the characters are American born Indian women who have had to deal with their parent’s cultural values vs. normal American life.
WD: For an independent film how did you get such a great cast?
Zee: First, the story has to be very good and extremely powerful. Second, the actors have to believe in the script. Third, the movie has to have a universal message that people can relate to. Once you have these elements, good actors will want to be a part of a great story. All the actors had a personal connection to Bicycle Bride. This always makes the director’s job far easier. Actors need to be personally connected to the story and their roles. They must believe in the script. My role as a director is to guide that talent to produce a memorable picture. If I didn’t, you wouldn’t pay $12 for a ticket.
WD: How does your cast compare to the actors in this year’s best picture, The Hurt Locker?
Zee: Katherine Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker, Academy Award winner for Best Picture, took place in a similar part of the world. She was very successful in creating deep heartfelt characters. My goal with Bicycle Bride’s actors was to tell the story of each character as if it was their own personal story. I invested a significant amount of time with each of our stars to understand them both personally and professionally. The result was extremely authentic performances by our entire cast.
