Finding Your Voice at Any Age: the Power of Resilience ‘Designed by Preeti’

The crowd gathered outside Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre on 26 June carries a different energy than usual. These aren’t teenagers clutching autograph books or industry executives checking their phones. Instead, women in their fifties and beyond chat excitedly about a film that finally puts their stories centre stage – stories of starting over and resilience, finding love again and building something meaningful from the ground up.

‘Designed by Preeti’, officially selected for the 28th Dances with Films Festival, celebrates reinvention rather than youth, maturity rather than perfection. The film follows Preeti, a woman who escapes an abusive marriage and builds a successful career as a fashion designer while unexpectedly finding love along the way.

When Life Begins After Fifty

Preeti’s journey mirrors countless real-life stories of women who’ve discovered that their most fulfilling chapters often begin well past middle age. Research from The Washington Post highlights numerous women over 50 who achieved personal or professional milestones after major life changes, whether through caregiving, loss or simply rediscovering long-buried ambitions.

For women from immigrant backgrounds, this reinvention carries additional layers of complexity. They must navigate not only personal change but also cultural expectations that may discourage starting fresh. The film’s exploration of these themes feels particularly timely as organisations like Femigrants Foundation work to empower diverse female immigrants to rebuild their careers in new countries.

Faces That Tell Different Stories

Most actors in ‘Designed by Preeti’ are over 50, representing Sikh, Punjabi, Tamil and Black communities – faces rarely given leading roles in mainstream cinema. This multicultural ensemble reflects the reality of modern American life while addressing the persistent lack of representation for mature women of colour on screen.

The film industry has slowly begun recognising that audiences hunger for diverse stories. The Women Over 50 Film Festival in the UK specifically celebrates films by and about women past middle age, while festivals like Sundance and the Chi-Town Multicultural Film Festival showcase multicultural narratives that centre on mature perspectives.

Women Behind the Lens

‘Designed by Preeti’ was written, produced and directed entirely by women of colour. Director Gayatri Bajpai worked alongside writers Rashmi Rustagi, Wendy Moulton-Tate and Yashna Malhotra to craft an authentic narrative that comes from lived experience rather than external observation.

Rashmi Rustagi, who also stars in the lead role, explains the film’s deeper purpose: ”Designed by Preeti’ is more than a movie; it’s a movement. It’s a reminder of the power women hold within and the necessity of standing up to systems that seek to diminish us.’

When women from similar backgrounds see themselves represented not as stereotypes but as complex characters navigating real challenges, the impact extends far beyond entertainment.

The Sound of Finding Yourself

Music plays a crucial role in shaping the film’s emotional story. The soundtrack features original compositions by a California-based lyricist, performed by renowned Bollywood singers alongside a female vocalist. This blend of American and South Asian musical traditions mirrors the cultural navigation many immigrant women experience as they build new lives while maintaining connections to their heritage.

The songs accompany Preeti’s journey from trauma through healing to empowerment, providing an emotional roadmap that speaks to women who’ve walked similar paths. Music becomes both refuge and celebration, marking the moments when characters choose courage over fear.

Beyond the Screen

The film addresses critical issues including domestic abuse, mental health and interracial relationships within the Indo-American community. These aren’t abstract social problems but lived realities for many women in the audience. By centring these experiences within an uplifting narrative about personal agency and community support, the film offers both recognition and hope.

The Dances with Films Festival has built a reputation for supporting diverse, independent voices in cinema. The 28th edition particularly emphasises multicultural representation and underrepresented filmmakers, making it an ideal platform for ‘Designed by Preeti’.

‘Designed by Preeti’ screens at 7.15pm on 26 June at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. For women who’ve ever felt invisible in mainstream media or wondered whether it’s too late to start something new, this film offers a different answer. It suggests that the most interesting stories often begin not in youth but in the wisdom that comes with experience – and that love, career success and personal fulfilment remain possible at any age.

Sometimes the most powerful act of progress is simply deciding to put yourself first. In a cinema world still dominated by stories about young people finding themselves, ‘Designed by Preeti’ dares to suggest that finding yourself might be an ongoing process – one that continues well past fifty.