Ask the Sexpert is a feature length documentary about Dr. Mahinder Watsa, a highly popular 93-year-old sex advice columnist for a daily newspaper in Mumbai. Despite sex being a taboo topic in India, the column’s brand of non-moralistic advice and humor has emboldened many to write in with their questions. The columnist gains popularity even while a ban on comprehensive sex education in schools is adopted by approximately a third of India’s states.
ASK THE SEXPERT is Vaishali’s second feature length documentary and a presentation by her company Coast to Coast Films. Vaishali has received support for her films from ITVS, the MacArthur Foundation, Tribeca Film Institute, Catapult Fund, Firelight Media, Playboy Foundation, Chicken & Egg Pictures, The Fledgling Fund, Center for Asian American Media, Mozilla, Ford Foundation, Nextpix and more. Vaishali has also worked alongside Peabody award winning filmmaker Richard Wormser (Dir: Rise and Fall of Jim Crow) in New York. She has also produced numerous independent shorts as well as commissioned works for clients. Vaishali speaks regularly at events and has acted as jury member at film festivals.
more on Vaishali here: www.vaishalisinha.com
Additionally, she has taught documentary research, development, and rights clearance courses at The New School, NYU’s School of Continuing Studies, and at The New York Film Academy. She is currently working with the Tribeca Film Institute to direct a fund for the production and distribution of short independent documentaries and with Tangerine Entertainment to produce indie films by women directors.
A cinematography graduate from Film and Television Institute of India, He has been privileged to work with award winning renowned Cinematographer Abhik Mukhopadhyay as his associate and operator for feature films like Kill Dil, Pink, The Violin Player and Idgah. When he isn't travelling or working, he spends his time working with non-profit organisation Sri Sarveshwari Samooh.
“An intimate look at the way Indians talk about sex.” – Huffington Post
“The film deftly moves between Watsa, his conservative detractors and gorgeous footage of young lovers on the streets of Mumbai.” – Globe and Mail
“I find it utterly impossible not to be charmed by Dr. Watsa, and by extension, by this documentary by Vaishali Sinha.” – Cinema Axis
“Stooped and kindly, he’s India’s favorite straight-talking uncle, only one who advertises viagra as a sideline. He’s certainly a find.” – Screen Daily
“Sex is a joyful thing,” says Watsa — BBC
“He has — gently, gently — pushed the limits in Indian popular culture” — NY Times
“At age 94, Watsa is still answering sex queries.” — NPR
The 93-year-old Dr. Mahinder Watsa rose to fame for his straight talking and humorous advice in a daily sex column for the Mumbai Mirror founded in 2005. But for over several decades, Dr. Mahinder Watsa has promoted the importance of sexual pleasure, consent and information as a passage to gender equality and health.
Straight out of medical school in the 1950s, Dr. Watsa an obstetrician and gynecologist – also began a career as a columnist. He was asked to write a medical advice column for a women’s magazine called Trend. Trend was started by one of India’s early female journalists Frenny Talyarkhan. At first the letters were of general nature but soon he started receiving letters from across India where women talked about molestation, rapes or exes showing up at their doorstep threatening to tell the husband they had sexual relations before marriage. Recognizing the need for education Dr. Watsa switched from gynecology into sex education and sex therapy in the 1970s.
A consultant for the Family Planning Association of India, he convinced the association to start India’s first sex education cell, SCERT, a national wide effort to hold sex educational programs in schools. In 1976 he organized India’s first ever workshop on human sexuality. The workshop, a stir, talked about women’s desires, showed films about homosexuality and promoted open and inclusive conversations.
In December 2012, the topic of sexuality in India received tremendous attention due to the brutal gang rape and murder of a Delhi woman. Today, as Indians discuss women’s safety, a powerful conservative movement blames sexual openness as a key reason for sexual violence.
To date Dr. Watsa estimates he has answered more than 40,000 questions, the vast majority seeking basic information. At once essential and controversial within the Indian context, he has been called a man “on the edge of becoming a national treasure” by Scroll India.
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