Bollywood R&D

As part of our NLPG Under £30K Grant application, this is our creative example, showcasing a sense of who we are and some of our previous work that will inspire and inform this project.

Almir Datoo

(He/Him)

Almir Datoo is an award-winning filmmaker based in Leeds, crafting stories that celebrate community, culture, and creativity. Practising as a self-shooting producer/director for nearly 10 years, he has developed work for broadcast TV, digital campaigns, and directed short films that have screened internationally. Seeing a need for accessible storytelling in the 3rd sector, in 2025, he established the video production house Circle Take Films, giving non-profits and local charities the ability to share their impact in visual ways that resonate with audiences.

As a director of both scripted and factual short films, his work has collected accolades, including a Royal Television Society award, plus special curation at BAFTA-nominated festivals. In his free time, he enjoys working on & supporting short films that tell emerging South Asian stories in innovative ways.

Into The Blue Again

What lengths would you go to in order to escape adulthood? Filmed between 2024/2025, Into the Blue Again is a short coming-of-age drama about Pauli who decides to ignore responsibility and instead live life as a goldfish. With support from Film Hub North, the project brought together crews who were exploring different roles for the first time, allowing a low-stakes approach to creativity and development of new skills in a safe and collaborative environment.

Pop-Up Culture

Arts organisation South Asian Arts held a series of events across Leeds titled ‘Pop-Up Culture’. Almir was employed to capture this community-led celebration of South Asian poetry, music, dance, and culture. A legacy project of LEEDS 2023, these case study videos highlighted the vibrant cultural roots and roles that South Asian culture plays in modern Yorkshire, giving the community a platform and voice to

share their passion.

You can also view Almir's detailed CV, please click here

To explore their other work, visit
www.circletakefilms.com

Natasha Joseph

(They/She)

Born and brought up in Bangalore, India, Natasha is a multidisciplinary artist and creative producer now based in Leeds, UK. They specialise in public art, large-scale murals, and community-engaged cross‑disciplinary practice. Natasha's work centres on place-based storytelling and collaborative making processes that amplify underrepresented voices and transform public spaces. Over the past five years, they have led and delivered significant public‑facing commissions and multi‑partner cultural programmes across Yorkshire. Natasha's practice spans visual art, curation, film, and participatory projects. They are also the founder and director of We Belong Here CIC, a community arts organisation supporting inclusive creative opportunities for Global Majority, Migrant, Queer and Disabled Artists.

Humari Aawaz

Nat co-produced Humari Awaaz (Our Voices), a photography and sound installation celebrating the lived experiences of South Asian communities in Calderdale. Commissioned by The Piece Hall and funded by Culturedale, Nat led the artistic direction and community engagement process, inviting residents to share stories of migration, work and belonging. Through workshops and interviews, these voices were transformed into a multi-sensory exhibition of portraiture, sound and symbolic objects — a co-created space of recognition, dialogue and pride that drew thousands of visitors.

Humari Kahaniyan

Nat co-produced Humari Kahaniyan (Our Stories), a major exhibition at the Calderdale Industrial Museum exploring the South Asian contribution to the region’s textile industry from the 1950s to the 1980s. Funded by Culturedale, the project saw Nat lead the creative vision and community engagement process, spending two years building relationships with families and former mill workers to gather oral histories, photographs and personal artefacts previously absent from the museum’s collection. The exhibition marked a turning point for the museum, embedding these stories within its permanent archive and sparking intergenerational dialogue about identity, belonging and shared heritage.