Being Tamil is a portrait and storytelling series exploring the diversity of Tamil identity in the diaspora.

The project began simply because I wanted to photograph more Tamil faces. But I was curious about what it means to grow up Tamil in Canada, how identity shifts across places, and how culture is held, reshaped, or reclaimed over time.

Having grown up between the Middle East and Tamil Nadu before moving to Canada at 17, my own understanding of Tamil identity has always been layered. Through this series, I wanted to connect with others navigating that same in-between space.

Each portrait is shaped by the individual. While rooted in traditional clothing, every subject brings their own interpretation of what “Tamil” looks like. For Anusha, that meant a soft, academic, dreamlike aesthetic. For Ahdithya, it was grounded in Bharatanatyam. For Ruth, it was about expressing her personal style and the importance of family.

This project is about documenting that range, honouring the fact that there is no single way to be Tamil.