Arjunraj Natarajan, Graduate
| Name | Arjunraj Natarajan |
| Country | India |
| Current Activities | Arjunraj is currently working on “Liminality,” a feature film supported by the CIRCE fellowship and the Crossing Borders fellowship by Robert Bosch Stiftung and Berlin Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt |
| Profile |
arjunraj, is a filmmaker, multimodal researcher and pedagogue. arjunraj teaches decolonial filmmaking and collaborative storytelling practices at the Albert Ludwigs Universität Freiburg. Drawing from a decade of experience in telling stories collaborating with individuals carrying stresses of othering, arjunraj is on a journey teaching people collaborative storytelling and travels extensively to share it with storytellers of all kinds. arjunraj has been developing a revolutionary storytelling methodology fracturing the politics of storytelling on who gets to tell stories about whom. arjunraj’s professional experience in filmmaking began in India, producing independent films by traveling across the country on rail, road, and foot, focusing on marginalized communities. The films have garnered over 2.5 million views on YouTube. arjunraj was the Director’s Assistant for India’s largest crowdfunded political documentary, “An Insignificant Man.” arjunraj also worked on “India in a Day,” India’s first crowdsourced film produced by Ridley Scott and Google. arjunraj is currently working on “Liminality,” an artistic feature film looking into weight of intergenerational trauma. arjunraj is a recipient of fellowships from Robert Bosch Stiftung, Berlin Senat, CIRCE, U Institut Berlin.
Testimonial about the master program
I began the MA studies in „Visual Anthropology, Media and Documentary Practices“ at University of Münster in 2019 and believe the studies definitely broadened my horizon in understanding the inherent power structures and critical colonial paradigms in anthropological and cultural knowledge production. My decision to pursue this academic path was motivated by a desire to equip myself with a robust theoretical framework to underpin my research endeavors, particularly for my film project “Liminality,” which served as the driving force behind my relocation to Germany.
Throughout my studies, I found myself drawn to the enriching academic environment characterized by insightful instructors and a supportive peer group. These elements not only enhanced my learning experience but also fostered a sense of intellectual camaraderie that encouraged me to delve deeper into my research inquiries. As I immersed myself in the coursework, I gained valuable insights that continue to inform my approach to visual anthropology and documentary practices, shaping my perspective on issues of representation, cultural narratives, and social justice.