About me

I’m an author, multimedia journalist and an award-winning documentary filmmaker from India, based in New York City. Over the past five years, I’ve reported across both print and digital platforms, covering political violence, public health, gender-based crimes, and human interest stories.

I moved to the U.S. in 2023 to pursue my master’s degree in journalism with a specialization in documentary from Columbia Journalism School. During my time there, I directed METTLE, a short documentary following the life of a blind judo Paralympian. The film was selected to premiere at the 2024 International Sports Film Festival in Naples, Italy where it won the "Best Student Work" award out of 149 entries in the competition.

My reporting experience spans pivotal events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Delhi riots, the nationwide farmers' protests, and over 15 state elections in India. Driven by a passion for highlighting underrepresented voices and holding power to account, I am committed to storytelling that combines empathy, authenticity, and creativity.

You can reach me at surabhi.sundaram@gmail.com