Disturbing Kuchipudi themed movie

Classical Dance forms & related music
Post Reply
kashyap65
Posts: 1
Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 12:20

Disturbing Kuchipudi themed movie

Post by kashyap65 »

I just returned from watching a movie Vanaja themed under Kuchupudi. Unfortunately it is made with someone with no knowledge of kuchupudi and later I came to know no one will screen it in India. I felt compelled to post it here as it was sponsored by Shri Krupa Dance Company, one of whose parents recommended me about this. http://www.ashanet.org/sf/events/filmfe ... nsors.html My 10th grade daughter does not feel good about the movie at all. My daughter attends a different dance school in the Bay area. I wonder why such so called crass art movies are shown only to western audience who appreciate it. I don't want to start a argument on the occasion of India Independence day, but my opinion is the art form should be left to experts of art form. Maybe someone from this dance school can justify the reason for sponsoring such things and getting deviated.

ShrutiLaya
Posts: 225
Joined: 14 Sep 2008, 01:15

Re: Disturbing Kuchipudi themed movie

Post by ShrutiLaya »

The movie is disturbing, because it is made in the "art movie" style with realistic and stark settings. It is certainly not a movie that's suitable for a 10th grade girl in the US. To quote IMDB:

"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, ending in a rape - a rape of a minor. Set in rural South India, a place where social barriers are built stronger than ancient fort walls, the film explores the chasm that divides classes as a young girl struggles to come of age."

We screened the movie at the Telugu Association here in New York when I was its secretary, so it is not only for western audiences. I can see why no one would release it in India, because it has minimal commercial appeal. I admit I don't know enough about Kuchipudi myself, but the movie is not really about Kuchipudi at all.

- Sreenadh

Post Reply