Co-Director

Leela Prasad brings a unique combination of grassroots activism and scholarly expertise to this film project. She is President of the American Academy of Religion and professor at Brown University.  In her award-winning book (based in the same town as Let Us See’s protagonist), Poetics of Conduct: Oral Narrative and Moral Being in a South Indian Town (2007), she highlights women’s storytelling and everyday practices as key resources of ethical knowledge and imagination. Her book The Audacious Raconteur (2020) shows how politically subjugated people in fact remain invincibly sovereign because of their creativity, despite the oppressor’s power. Leela curated the first exhibition on Indian American life at the Balch Institute in Philadelphia and co-directed the documentary “Back and Forth: Two Generations of Indian Americans at Home” (1999). Her experience teaching Gandhi in U.S. prisons and documenting stories of formerly-incarcerated individuals in both India and the U.S. exemplifies her dedication to connect historical movements for justice with contemporary predicaments and struggles. This work has given her unique insight into how principles of non-violent resistance resonate across cultural and temporal boundaries. She has won fellowships from Fulbright, Guggenheim, American Institute for Indian Studies, American Philosophical Society, and NEH.

Co-Director

Baba Prasad is Professor of Leadership at Brown University. His work on strategic agility draws directly from Gandhi's principles, viewing the Mahatma as a model of adaptable, visionary leadership that transcends self-interest. After his Ph.D. at the Wharton School, he taught at several business schools in the USA and India, and has been a consultant for various global organizations. He has been a columnist for Mint, the Indian business newspaper. His book Nimble invites leaders to think beyond immediate corporate gains toward broader societal impact. His extensive civic engagement work includes directing multiple DukeEngage programs in India and designing courses like “Technology in the Service of Society,” which connect innovation and grassroots creativity with social responsibility. He regularly lectures on ethical leadership and entrepreneurship in North Carolina prisons, emphasizing moral agency as a key to systemic transformation and equitable solutions. Baba writes literary fiction and has recently completed his first novel. He translates this literary sensibility into visual metaphor as he co-directs Let Us See.

Director of Photography

Karan Thapliyal's cinematography credits include two Academy Award milestones: "Writing with Fire" (2021), India's first documentary nominated for Best Documentary Feature and double Sundance award winner, which documented Dalit women journalists challenging India's caste and gender hierarchies, and "The Elephant Whisperers,” the first Indian production to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, about the complex relationship between humans and the wild. Karan's work has taken him across India's diverse landscapes—from Siachen's icy peaks to Tamil Nadu's dense forests, from Rajasthan's desert to Meghalaya's monsoons. Based in New Delhi, Karan's documentaries have screened at festivals worldwide, marking him as one of India's most accomplished documentary cinematographers. Over 15 years, he has crafted documentaries for organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, and broadcasters like National Geographic, Discovery, and History. Karan cinematography has helped break new ground in representing marginalized voices. With 15 years of experience documenting social justice and environmental justice movements across India's diverse landscapes, he brings both technical excellence and deep cultural sensitivity to this project.

Pradyumna, known affectionately as Paddy, is an acclaimed sound designer whose work has elevated some of the most celebrated films of recent years. With a meticulous ear for detail and a mastery of vocal textures, he crafts immersive soundscapes that bring stories to life. His innovative approach to sound engineering, coupled with his ability to seamlessly adapt across studio and on-location environments, has made him a sought-after professional in the industry.

Pradyumna’s credits include "The Elephant Whisperers" (2023), the first Indian production to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, where his intricate sound work captured the intimate bond between humans and wildlife. He was also instrumental in "The Mehta Boys" (Best Film, Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2024, with an early 2025 release on Amazon Original), a poignant exploration of friendship and identity. His contributions to "Borderlands" (National Award Winner, 2022) and "Murmurs of the Jungle" (National Award Winner, 2023) showcased his ability to highlight the subtleties of human experience and natural environments through sound.

With years of experience and a reputation for pushing creative boundaries, Pradyumna approaches challenges as opportunities for innovation. His dynamic problem-solving and collaborative spirit consistently enhance the emotional and narrative impact of his projects.

Based in India, Pradyumna’s work continues to set new benchmarks in sound design, making him an invaluable asset to filmmakers striving for excellence.