The Story of Light from my Hometown

An experience of light through visuals, sounds, and music told through the journey of a young girl in a small village in Punjab. It explores light as something that gives life, is mysterious, transcends time yet is a marker of time.

for Tata Cliq Luxury




Raghu Rai, An Unframed Portrait

Avani Rai didn’t set out to make a film about her father, the famous photographer Raghu Rai. What she wanted was to get to know him better by observing him on one of his photo trips. In the film that she ended up making anyway, father and daughter travel together to the Indian state of Kashmir, where political unrest prevails and violence is commonplace. They photograph their surroundings and each other, in the meantime reflecting on their lives, politics and his craft, which is richly illustrated with material from Raghu Rai’s archive. The elder Rai started taking photos in the 1960s, and has now published more than 50 books. He is best known for his powerful series on the aftermath of the Bhopal toxic gas tragedy in 1984, Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi. Avani films and photographs her father as he works—and as he instructs her on viewpoints and framing. In the process, the film becomes a portrait not only of a passionate photographer, but also of a father-daughter relationship in which the camera is a source of both connection and friction.





Films for The Ayu

The reassuring ritual of daily cleansing, with warm perfumed baths and cool showers. Avani Rai explores the narratives of Water and Smoke, Jasmine and Rose.





Her Becoming for Zoya Jewels

Inspired by the chronicles of her life and the pattern of her imagination, the ‘Her Becoming’ is a Zoya signature collection. Its intricate artistry and timeless appeal becomes a testament to the enduring allure of every woman’s determined narrative.

Modern in its form, Avani Rai photographs and directs a campaign that is rooted in Ikat’s essence, where natural diamonds converge, into a structured weave of natural gold, encapsulating the dimensions of 'Her Becoming' in every intricate facet.





HDFC Film, Love All




ICON MENA’s - Erwan Konaté

The crowd’s cheers filled the stadium. He’d just soared an 8.08m at the World Athletics U20 Championship 2022 in Cali, Colombia.

“Erwan Konaté,” his name resounded on the speakers. He excitedly hops on the top podium spot. When Mike Powell, a legend in long jump, hung the gold medal around his neck, the gravity of the moment appeared to hit Konaté. The French national anthem is playing. Erwan soaks all of it in and savours it.

At the age of 21, our Issue 02 cover star Erwan Konaté is a force to be reckoned with, boasting two World U20 Championships under his belt in long jump. The model-turned-athlete sets his sights on the grandest stage of all – the Olympics.


2024 AVANI RAI©