Kaalam examines the underrepresentation of dystopian, futuristic, and sci-fi genres in Indian media, investigating how cultural, societal, and industrial forces shape storytelling. Through a mixed-media approach—media analysis and creative exploration—this project envisions an alternate timeline where Indian aesthetics evolve within speculative narratives.
Kaalam challenges the boundaries between tradition and futurism at its core, reinterpreting Indian jewelry through a dystopian lens. The final piece, a handcrafted nail ring, embodies resilience and adaptation, symbolizing the transformation of cultural identity in uncertain futures. Accompanied by a thematic short film, this work reimagines India’s artistic heritage through speculative fiction, where history and futurism converge.
By merging research and design, Kaalam sparks dialogue on the absence of futuristic storytelling in Indian cinema and fashion, questioning the constructs of modernity and who gets to define them.
