Kelin (2025)

Kelin, an experimental short film, is my act of protest that parallels an abusive marriage with Kazakhstan’s colonial past. The title, derived from the Kazakh word for bride—literally meaning "the one who came to your house"— represents the forced intrusion of colonizers into Kazakh homes and lives, much like the dynamics of control and submission in abusive relationships. Set within the confines of a Soviet-era domestic space, the film employs fragmented, non-linear storytelling and symbolic imagery to explore themes of gender roles, cultural traditions, and domestic violence.

Kelin premiered at Sunway University during the final-year project exhibition Above and Beyond, where it was presented as an installation. The exhibition space recreated a room from the film, immersing viewers in its unsettling atmosphere. As part of the installation, visitors were invited to take a piece of laundry and write down what they considered "dirty laundry" in their culture—taboo topics that are often silenced or hidden.