P.S. This review on VANAJA is moved from different category.
Once in a while, a movie changes your perspective. How true?
Thats what made me realise after watching Vanaja.
You can still make an interestingly high quality movie which can remind you of what we are losing in the course of modernisation.
Vanaja is the movie made by Rajnesh Domalpalli as part of his Columbia school project with
a meagre budget. It has been making news in I’nal film festivals these
days.
For
me, it has been an ever intruguing experience. No matter whether the
movie was from regional languages like the original of Saaheb(an
Assamese version), or a
Vanaja
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Mallu Naadodikattu or the excellent French
movies that were shown in Siri Fort Auditorium for 1/3rd of the PVR
prices or the recently watched Marathi movies Uttarayan and Dombivli
Fast. They have the impact, the strengh to convey the message or the
kind of story telling that you really desire to connect to.
Just
off the topic to re-iterate my above point on regional movies. There is
this interesting Marathi movie called "Dombivli Fast" which became a
big hit and is being remade by Madhavan in Tamil. Am pretty sure it
will make more money and name than it made in Marathi. When there is
such a strong story, where are the marketing guys with their
exceptional talent and degrees from premier institutions?
Well.
Vanaja impressed me so much that I am short of words to explain the
quality of the movie. Why the heck these Chamans do not review the
regional movies before sending some most Chamanest commercial movies to
Oscars or other contests? Its agreed that you want to sell Bollywood to
the whole world. But Palease(not misspelled) retain the quality.
So
many things I liked about the movie. Primarily the story. that of a
girl child(an exceptionally smart kid) like most of the rural girls
even though are aware of the situations around but due to lack of
freedom, resources, proper directions or education suffer incessantly.
Vanaja is the 15-year old daughter of Sommayya, a very poor
Fisherman, a durnkard to the core. Vanaja is exceptionally talented,
enjoying her childhood life the Chinni CHinni Asa way(Choti Choti Asha)
along with her closest friend, Lachchi.
While she understands
her limitations because of the ill social discriminations(somebody like
Ratna would do justice putting the discrimation in words). At the same
time she has a dream to learn Kuchipudi dance, anything classical is no
easy achievement. is it? But then, why is not accessible to one and
all or at least to those passionate about? Why don;t we provide them
the oppurtunity without making it a ’only hereditary affair’? I never
get the answers though. Anyhow, the determined and confident Vanaja
is., she exactly knows how to realise her dream. But like many other
children/( to some extent also woman. Do not blame. is it not a fact?),
do not understand the gravity of the situations that they might have to
go through before achieving those dreams. She manages to convince her
father to make her work as a maid at the Zamindar’s house so that over
a period of time, she can learn Kuchipudi dance from the Zamindar, who
had been a very good dancer herself. She wins the Zamindar’s heart, but
this 15-yera girl has to go through a rape, a motherhood, separation
from her child, etc etc. But what happens in the long run? Does she
achieve the dream she dared? Watch it for yourself.
To find more about the film, do visit https://vanajathefilm.com
Performances, considering the background of the actors/actresses, amazing. Sound tracks and dance sequences are excellent.
The
most captivating part of the movie was the asthapadi "saViraHe Tava
Dina Radha. ", both dance as well as the music. Also the ending scene
of elephant ride. Both scenes will leave an ever lasting impression of
the quality of the movie.
Unfortunately, the movie is labelled
Art movie and distributors are hesitant to release in India. But if you
can appreciate social movies with a penchant for art and culture,
jaroor Watchna. whenever its possible.
