“Research has shown that human bodies regenerate completely at a cellular level, every seven years. Similarly, I believe that my thought process, my approach to work and my personal style has to transform. Since the beginning, my goals have been very selfish—to do better than what I know and better than what I’ve seen and to always be an original.” Whether it’s ditching a lucrative career to start making his own films or mastering the elusive art of pointillism, Rahul Datta believes in giving every little thing his all. Rahul is an artist, a pointillist, a photographer and a filmmaker—and the one thread that connects all these seemingly different occupations is his ability to tell stories. The 34-year-old was born in Chandigarh, lives and works in Goa, but barely stays in one spot for too long. The taste for travel and adventure was cultivated early by his previous career as a mariner. During his time sailing on international waters, Datta started to develop an interest in filmmaking. He began teaching himself about cameras, lenses and equipment through online tutorials and eventually made a few short films. In 2014 he gave up his job and founded Starving Art Films, a company that makes films for corporates, brands and individuals with the aim of turning ordinary stories to extraordinary, unforgettable ones. In addition to filmmaking Datta also takes on photography and art commissions and further explores these mediums through personal projects. Rahul’s art prints offer a clever juxtaposition of wild escapism and the everyday mundanity of the human condition.

“Research has shown that human bodies regenerate completely at a cellular level, every seven years. Similarly, I believe that my thought process, my approach to work and my personal style has to transform. Since the beginning, my goals have been very selfish—to do better than what I know and better than what I’ve seen and to always be an original.” Whether it’s ditching a lucrative career to start making his own films or mastering the elusive art of pointillism, Rahul Datta believes in giving every little thing his all. Rahul is an artist, a pointillist, a photographer and a filmmaker—and the one thread that connects all these seemingly different occupations is his ability to tell stories. The 34-year-old was born in Chandigarh, lives and works in Goa, but barely stays in one spot for too long. The taste for travel and adventure was cultivated early by his previous career as a mariner. During his time sailing on international waters, Datta started to develop an interest in filmmaking. He began teaching himself about cameras, lenses and equipment through online tutorials and eventually made a few short films. In 2014 he gave up his job and founded Starving Art Films, a company that makes films for corporates, brands and individuals with the aim of turning ordinary stories to extraordinary, unforgettable ones. In addition to filmmaking Datta also takes on photography and art commissions and further explores these mediums through personal projects. Rahul’s art prints offer a clever juxtaposition of wild escapism and the everyday mundanity of the human condition.

Personal transformation seems to be at the heart of Datta’s artistic endeavours and he wants to stay away from labels when it comes to defining his style. “I never say no, my first instinct is to do everything myself and I work very very hard,” he says. With no formal training in any of the disciplines that make up his current practice Datta has devised a unique process that he’s come to trust implicitly over the years. “If it’s a film about bikes that I am making, I know that it will be loved by bikers but I want my mom to love it as well. As human beings, we all respond to the same emotional impetuses of connection, passion, love, dedication and beauty and it’s my job to make sure everything I do links back to these universal concepts.” Datta has found success by staying true to his heart but his run hasn’t been without its trials. “The biggest challenge I am faced with every now and then is to convince clients that it’s worth spending the money on something different.”

At present Datta is busy riding the multi-hyphenate wave and is excited about the future. He is conducting a series of workshops called ‘The Films You Make Will Save The Planet’ where participants are taught to make films using their phones. He’s also raring to show the world what he calls The Living Cities Project, in which he attempts to capture the essence of a city through film. So far, Datta’s travelled to Leh, Srinagar and Nepal and he plans to take the project to other cities across the country soon. He is also working on a script and a book. “Every time I see something new it is a life-changing experience and I feel it like a tingling sensation in my soul. I hope I continue to starve for meaning—I never want to feel full or completely satiated.”