Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.
VANAJA
Synopsis
Vanaja, the 15 year old daughter of a financially troubled fisherman goes to work in the local landlady’s house in hopes of learning Kuchipudi dance. She does well, but when the Landlady’s son returns from the US, what begins as innocent sexual chemistry turns ugly.
Synopsis
Vanaja, the 15 year old daughter of a financially troubled fisherman goes to work in the local landlady’s house in hopes of learning Kuchipudi dance. She does well, but when the Landlady’s son returns from the US, what begins as innocent sexual chemistry turns ugly.
Our take
Shot in India’s rural south with a cast of nonprofessionals, this beautiful drama from Rajnesh Domalpalli evokes the melodic majesty of Satyajit Ray’s immortal classic The Music Room. With its vibrant colors and dazzling dance sequences, Vanaja is an exquisitely textured portrait of village life.