Local Indians and India Indians

[mordecai]

this is fascinating. I'm making a film about this very topic itself - NRIs in Singapore and their experiences with local Indians.

I should introduce myself. my name is Anant and I'm a freelance TV screenwriter/producer and a student at Chapman University Singapore, doing my BFA in Creative Producing.

the diasporic experience has always fascinated me coz I'm born and bred in Singapore, but my parents were from India. (i'm 26) I have no connections to my family back in India and I hardly know them, but I love India. recently, I've been starting to feel more at home in the remotest corners of India rather than in the heartlands of Singapore.

I understand that couldn't be the same with NRIs here. I know quite a few who've decided to settle down here. unlike maybe just a decade ago when most NRIs came to Singapore only to work and send money back to their wives and parents back home in India.

however, I also understand there are quite a number of differences between local indians and NRIs. I wanted to explore these issues in a very candid manner in my film.

a friend of mine recommended me this forum, but I didn't expect the topic to be discussed here : ) I would love to hear your stories. I need your honest thoughts on local Indians and your experiences living in Singapore. I read your views here but would you guys be willing to be so open on camera? would it be an issue? I hope not, coz it's a candid take on the issue and I'm only trying to understand and maybe do my part in bridging the gap : )

revhappy, sundaymorningstaple, Vistra, NazirMercan, parag, IndianLassie: I would love for you guys to be involved in the film : ) you guys have been so honest and open and I think your stories are worth telling.

please feel free to get in touch with me. I'm on twitter too, if anybody would like to get in touch there. please feel free to ask any questions about the film! I'll be glad to answer them!

oh also, I put up a call for auditions on Tabla! a couple of weeks back
http://brizzly.com/pic/N1V

regards,
Anant
http://overherd.net
[email protected]
http://twitter.com/anantshiva

[dalapati]

it's not realy aout the singapore local indian or original indian.it's all about every body makes their world with them who is present on surrouding him.they may be relatives,friends,colleagues.every body makes their world with their well wishers..

[sundaymorningstaple]

[ravinrai]

I'm an North and South indian mixed local. I am open to making new friends NRI or Singaporean alike. I do not suffer from caste or religion or colour segregation that may take place within some indians. Hence, I do not see discrimination.

Most of my friends are Chinese. This being the fact that the majority of the population in Singapore, is made up of Chinese. I do not colonised with other Indians, let alone look down or distant myself from NRIs.

On the contrary, my opinion towards NRIs is that they are a reserved lot. Mixing usually with their own and keeping their distance from the locals... why? I am not entirely sure. Check out Harry's pub at Changi Business Park for one.

Over the last few months, I have made some new NRI friends working at Changi Business Park and they seem to be very nice people. I have even helped shown them around Singapore.

So, interested parties, do contact me. We can start something new by forming a Local/NRI network to help each other out. Lets put all this assumptions and preconceived notions aside.

Cheers!