Tirlok Malik is a film maker, to put it simply. “I am a student of cinema and I hope to continue telling immigrant stories”, said Malik speaking with me the other day. Let me be straight and direct. Malik’s films deal with the issues and conflicts, which come with the migration. He says, “Movies, which are thought provoking sometimes can provide the healing experience to the audience.”

On the location shooting of “On Golden Years”. With the photography director and two of his actors Indrajit Saluja and Lovllien Kaurr

Let me take you with Malik on his journey from “Lonely in America” to “On Golden Years”, his latest creation that is being premiered on November 1, 2014. As an immigrant, when we come in the search of American Dream, at times we find we are “Lonely in America.” After achieving and living the American Dream, we also realize if we want real “Khushiyaan” (meaning: happiness), we need to make time to visit our aging parents and family in India.

Now in “On Golden Years” (the time to retire), some of us have conflicts such as India vs America, contentedness vs regrets and places to retire etc. We need to come to terms with life as an immigrant: the retirement of the American Dream. Tirlok Malik (CEO of Apple Productions) is a New York Emmy Award nominated filmmaker. Apple Productions has produced many films since 1990 starting with its first pioneer film about Indian Americans, “Lonely in America.”

The film was shown in 74 countries as well as on HBO and participated in 37 film festivals, winning many Awards. Malik’s work as an actor and a filmmaker has been acclaimed in the international and national media, including The New York Times, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Entertainment and other media. Apple Productions has line produced the USA portion of many Indian films starring actors such as Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Surya, Sanjay Dutt, Manisha Koirala, Mithun Chakravarti, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher, Mammootty, Tamanna, Sunny Deol, and Kangana Ranaut and many more.

Malik’s medium is mainly visual. So, I will take readers of The Indian Panorama through a visual gallery of pictures to let them know the kind of people that he has been associated with in his long career in film making and theater. Incidentally, Malik is not only a film personality; he is a known and accomplished theater personality, too, having directed a number of plays and having acted in many more. He is a regular at Ramayana presentation at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I saw him in the role of Bharat last year and was deeply impressed with his performance. He will be there again this year, on November 2, just a day after the premier of his latest film. Tirlok Malik has received a number of honors, appreciations and awards. He also received the Pride of India Gold Medal for his work as a filmmaker from the Indian Ambassador to the USA. In August 2007, Tirlok Malik was presented with the New York Citizens’ Award from the New York Mayor’s Office.

As an actor he has worked in many television series, and films. He has also done over 200 performances in New York theaters. Malik also founded the NRI TV Film Club, a platform for Indian and multicultural artists to create projects. Many local Indian American talents made their debut through his films. Malik’s dream is to create NRI-wood just like Hollywood and Bollywood. He invites everyone to join in his vision. Malik is also a restaurateur, bringing Ayurveda through his restaurant “Ayurveda Cafe” in Manhattan. Malik says, “I am a student of cinema and I hope to continue telling immigrant stories.”