Maya | The Illusion is a deeply emotional short drama film that explores the true meaning of love and loss in a world where memories offer both comfort and pain. Written and directed by San Pandey, and starring Aisha Kent and John Jewers, the film beautifully blends human emotion with speculative technology to question what it truly means to say goodbye.
The story follows a grieving widow who, after losing her husband in military service, turns to a virtual reality program to reconnect with a digital version of her late partner. As she navigates this blurred boundary between reality and simulation, she is forced to confront her grief, her memories, and the fragile line separating solace from illusion.
Developed as a Master’s Final Major Project at the University of Greenwich, Maya | The Illusion showcases innovative filmmaking techniques and efficient studio-based set design, balancing creative storytelling with practical production approaches to achieve cinematic quality on a student budget.
As both writer and director, my focus was on crafting an emotionally immersive experience — blending visual storytelling, sound design, and performance to evoke the raw beauty of memory and the pain of loss.
To learn more about the film production process behind Maya | The Illusion and explore the creative and technical decisions that shaped the film, visit my blog for my approach to filmmaking.
