Here is Good news for Atlanta’s movie buffs! Gem of
a movie ‘Vanaja’ can now be relished by all those
who missed viewing it when it was screened in
Atlanta. And those who were fortunate to watch it on
screen, can now re-enjoy it by watching its DVD
version. Yes, this critical and film festival hit of
2007 is now available on DVD from Emerging Pictures
Home Entertainment. It is a Must-See DVD for all
interested in classical dancing.
‘’Vanaja’ has received a “Four Stars” rating by
syndicated Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert.
“Vanaja was, said Ebert, “One of the five best
foreign language films of 2007.” He went on to
praise the film as “…beautiful, extraordinary and
heart-touching.” The New York Times called it an
“…absolutely timeless tale.” The film opened in
nearly 100 screens in major cities(including
Atlanta) across the country and went on to win the
2007 Berlin Film Festival’s illustrious Jury Prize
for Best First Feature; “Vanaja” became an official
selection at 104 international film festivals in 49
countries(including the U.S.)and the recipient of
more than twenty-four international
filmawards,including nominations for two of this
year’s Independent Spirit Awards: Best First Film
and Best Cinematography.
A Columbia Film graduate,Rajnesh Domalpalli has
directed his debut film“Vanaja” as his master’s
thesis, shooting the film on location in his
hometown in Andhra Pradesh, India.
The movie explores the difficulty of overcoming the
class and caste barriers in India, especially in its
rural areas. Feisty lower class girl,Vanaja,(Mamatha
Bhukya) and her sister-like friend Lacchi(Bhavani
Renukunta) go to the village folk-dance performance
where they meet the elderly dancer Padma, who
predicts that Vanaja will one day become a great
dancer. Spunky but caring Vanaja looks after her
widowed father Somayya(Ramachandriah Marikanti),who
has piled up debts due to his drinking and smoking.
Fortunately, Vanaja is able to charm her way into
finding a job, into the household of village’s
wealthy landlady,Rama Devi(Urmila Dammannagari),a
widow. Rama Devi, a proficient musician and dancer
is impressed with Vanaja’s hard work and begins
teaching her singing and Kuchipudi dancing.Vanaja is
an enthusiastic student, so she impresses everyone
with her dancing prowess at the local concerts. One
day Rama Devi’s only son Shekhar(Karan Singh)
returns home after studies in the U S. Vanaja ,who
is almost 16 years is attracted to handsome,
muscular Shekhar. She also flirts with the local
postman. Shekhar is an aspiring politician. At
first, he tries to subdueVanaja and later he rapes
her. Rama Devi is torn between her sympathy for
Vanaja and her motherly concern for Shekhar. Vanaja
delivers a baby boy. Being a lower class girl,
Shekhar would never marry her, so Vanaja and her
father unsuccessfully try to expose Shekhar. Rama
Devi and Shekhar try to hush up the scandal but
still Shekhar’s election prospects are ruined. The
heart tugging movie ends on a bitter-sweet note.
The viewer will empathize with almost all the
characters. They are believable and without any
artifice.Vanaja’s heartwarming role will endear her
to all. Slender and nimble, she excels in her
effortless, breathtaking dancing to hypnotic live
music. The tiffs between Vanaja and the old faithful
cook and servant Radhamma (Krishnamma Gundimalla)
are amusing. The movie has a sumptuous visual feast
of rural scenes-fishing boats, village well, oxen,
elephant; captivating landscape, and vivid colors of
saris, and shimmering dancing costumes.
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It is astounding that Director Domalpalli ,cast the
film without any professional actors and despite a
low budget, came up with a huge winner.
DVD Special Features:
• Separate featurettes-Domalpalli introduces the
film;Bhukya talks about her experiences during the
shoot.
• A featurette of the unabridged dances from the
film.
• Original theatrical trailer
• Never -before –seen shorts directed by Rajnesh.
Four shorts lasting 48 minutes.
• In Telugu. With English subtitles. MPAA-Unrated.
Color: Dolby 5.1
• Producer: Latha R Domalpalli
• Director: Rajnesh Domalpalli
• Cinematography: Milton Kam
• Music Directors: Bhaskara Narayanan and Indira
Amperiani
Emerging Pictures was founded in 2002 to create a
new theatrical distribution network for independent
,international and documentary films through the use
of digital technology. Through its digital network
of theatres, it brings first-run art house cinema to
cities and communities that would otherwise not
usually have access to such films. Vanaja is
Emerging’s latest DVD title to be released by its
Home Entertainment Division.
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