Mallika Sarabhai, one of the most renowned Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancers in India today, is planning to debut as a film director. Her movie will be based on an English novel written by a Keralite on the Syrian Christian community in Kerala. However, she prefers to keep everything in suspense, including the name of the novel, till the project is finalized.

Yadavan Chandran, son of film director T.V. Chandran and coordinator of Visual Communications at the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, will co-direct the movie. “It is about the many roles played by women in an orthodox Syrian Christian family set-up,” told Mallika Sarabhai, daughter of reputed dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai.

Mallika has won many accolades during her long career, the French Palme d'Or (the highest civilian award by the Government of France) being one of them. She also received the 'Best Soloist Artist' for her dance performance in Paris.

Mallika made headlines when she complained that the Narendra Modi government of Gujarat was harassing her due to her public criticism of their role during the 2002 riots; in late 2002, the government had accused her of human trafficking. The Gujarat government dropped the case in December 2004.