Punch Dialogue Podcast

#39 - Directing Films, Creative Identity & Breaking Into the Industry with Maya Bastian

Maya Bastian has been carving out a unique voice in the Canadian film industry, directing projects that explore identity, culture, and the complexities of diaspora life. Maya continues to push boundaries while bringing fresh perspectives to the screen. We also dive into the realities of the film industry in Canada, the importance of representation behind the camera, and the lessons Maya's learned along the way. Connect with the Hosts:⁠⁠@basementreels⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@krusansiva⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@tharshanr⁠⁠⁠ Follow our guest here: IG: ⁠⁠@mayabasti [https://www.instagram.com/mayabasti/?hl=en] Learn more about Maya Bastian: https://mayabastian.com/press/ [https://mayabastian.com/press/] Thank you to 7Studios & Events: For rental inquiries, click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://7studios.ca/⁠⁠⁠ [https://7studios.ca/] For sponsorships or to submit questions for future episodes, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠basementreels@gmail.com

#38 - Nylan Parthipan: The Voice Behind Paw Patrol, PJ Masks & Disney’s Out of My Mind

Nylan Parthipan is a two-time ACTRA Award nominee for Best Voice Performance and one of the standout young Tamil-Canadian talents in film and television. Nylan’s voice has brought to life beloved characters like Zuma in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Ice Cub in PJ Masks Power Heroes, and Wheeler in Rubble & Crew. He’s also known for his breakout live-action role as Carl in Disney’s Out of My Mind. We chat with Nylan about how he got into voice acting, what it’s like performing for major animated shows, and his experience transitioning into on-screen acting. We also discuss his neuromuscular condition and how he has become an inspiration for those around him. This episode dives into creativity, confidence, and representation; showing how young artists of color are reshaping the landscape of children’s entertainment. Connect with the Hosts:⁠⁠@basementreels⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@krusansiva⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@tharshanr⁠⁠⁠ Follow our guest here: IG: ⁠⁠@nylan.p [https://www.instagram.com/tamilaakalthanesh/] Thank you to 7Studios & Events: For rental inquiries, click here: ⁠⁠https://7studios.ca/⁠⁠ [https://7studios.ca/] For sponsorships or to submit questions for future episodes, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠basementreels@gmail.com

#37 - Healthy Gut, Mind and Body - How Thanesh Goes Viral and Heals a Community

We sit down with Thanesh, a certified holistic health practitioner, content creator, and author of the e-book Leaky Gut. After turning his own health crisis into a viral journey, Thanesh has built a powerful online platform blending wellness education with humor. Known for his harsh and honest takes on Tamil stereotypes, gut health myths, and modern wellness culture, he’s helped thousands rethink how they approach their health. We talk about his path from personal struggle to purpose-driven storytelling, the truth behind “leaky gut,” and how cultural stigma plays into conversations about health in South Asian communities. Connect with the Hosts:⁠⁠@basementreels⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@krusansiva⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@tharshanr⁠⁠⁠ Follow our guest here: IG: ⁠@tamilaakalthanesh ⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/tamilaakalthanesh/]  TikTok: @tamilaakalthanesh [https://www.tiktok.com/@tamilaakalthanesh]  Thank you to 7Studios & Events: For rental inquiries, click here: ⁠https://7studios.ca/⁠ [https://7studios.ca/] For sponsorships or to submit questions for future episodes, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠basementreels@gmail.com

#36 - Dilani Rabindran - Award Winning Film Producer on Eastern and Western Film Industries

Dilani Rabindran is an award-winning film producer, festival programmer, founder of Viewfinder Film Productions and her short film Little Wings just won an award for best cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards. Dilani opens up about the making of Little Wings, the significance of her National Award win, and her perspective on producing impactful Tamil and English independent cinema. This is a must-listen conversation for filmmakers, storytellers, and anyone curious about how film festivals, producing, and cross-cultural representation intersect. Connect with the Hosts: ⁠⁠@basementreels⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@krusan.s⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@tharshanr⁠⁠⁠ Follow our guest here: IG: @dilani_r & @viewfinderfp   X: @dilani_r & @viewfinderfp   FB:  https://www.facebook.com/dilani.rabindran/ [https://www.facebook.com/dilani.rabindran/]  https://www.facebook.com/viewfinderfp/ [https://www.facebook.com/viewfinderfp/] Thank you to 7Studios & Events: For rental inquiries, click here: https://7studios.ca/ [https://7studios.ca/] Outro remix is by Konfused Kid [https://open.spotify.com/artist/22U1dCa4raTSMhrglGBnny]: Kannodu Kanbathellam - Konfused kid remix [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8HqOinbbSM&list=RDO8HqOinbbSM&start_radio=1] For sponsorships or to submit questions for future episodes, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠basementreels@gmail.com

#35 - Minister Gary Anandasangaree on Politics, Identity & Leading Change in Canada

In this special episode of Punch Dialogue, we sit down with The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree — Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and northern affairs, and long-time MP for Scarborough - Rouge Park. From his roots as a human rights lawyer and community advocate to his current role shaping national policy, Gary opens up about the journey, the challenges, and the responsibility that comes with representation. We talk about his work in Indigenous relations, justice reform, and what it means to be a Tamil-Canadian in one of the highest offices in the country. This is a candid and timely conversation about leadership, identity, and making real change within systems of power. Connect with the Hosts: ⁠@basementreels⁠⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/basementreels],⁠⁠@krusan.s⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/krusan.s],⁠⁠@tharshanr⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/tharshanr] For sponsorships or to submit questions for future episodes, email us at⁠⁠basementreels@gmail.com⁠⁠. Support Us:Become a Patreon member to help us continue telling important stories:⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/BasementReels [https://www.patreon.com/BasementReels]