Festival Films A-Z

Mamatha Bhukya, Urmila Dammannagarim, Karan Singh

Varija Films Pvt. Ltd.
Naveen Challa
8-2-120/C/88/ 1, Road No.2,
Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad 500-033
Indien
Tel.: +91 40 23 54 42 48
E-Mail: varijafilms@gmail.com

Milton Kam

Robert Q. Lovett, Rajnesh Domalpalli

Dance Director: Srinivas Devarakonda
Music & Lyrics Composer: Indira Amperiani

Emerging Pictures Corp.
Ira Deutchman, Josh Green
245 W 55th St, 4th Floor,
New York, NY 10019
USA
Tel.: +1 212 245 6767
Fax: +1 212 202 4984

Synopsis

Vanaja is the 14-year-old daughter of a fisherman in southern India. Her father is a member of a lower caste and, as his catch dwindles, his debts rise. One day, a fortune-teller prophesies that Vanaja will become a famous dancer, and so she decides to take up a position in the home of a wealthy neighbour named Rama Devi. Vanaja hopes to receive lessons in traditional Kuchipudi dance from her, while earning a living by working on her farm. Vanaja is first given the job of looking after the animals. Although her unconventional appearance means that her superiors do not give her an easy time, the lively Vanaja soon makes a positive impression on her employer, who gives her a new job in the kitchen. Here, she has to learn to cope with a cantankerous old cook named Radhamma. Before long, Rama Devi invites Vanaja to play a round of ?ashta chamma?. Soon realising that her mistress is a bad loser, Vanaja decides to surrender the game to her. Vanaja's tactic does not go unnoticed by Rama Devi, who offers to teach her music and dance. The girl proves to be an excellent pupil and she makes swift progress until she meets Shekhar, Rama Devi's 23-year-old son. This attractive young man has returned to India from the USA to run in the local elections. Shekhar exploits Vanaja?s innocence and she falls pregnant. A crisis ensues when Vanaja makes use of her nimble presence of mind to contradict an insecure Shekhar in the presence of his mother. The situation soon comes to a head and, all at once, Vanaja feels the full force of rejection from a family belonging to a higher caste.
The internationally acclaimed film Vanaja is Rajnesh Domalpallis degree film, with which he completed his studies at Columbia University in New York. It received the Best First Feature Award at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival. Vanaja is also the debut for the young actress Mamatha Bhukja, who plays Vanaja. With her excellent acting, Bhukja portrays a self-confident girl who does not become a victim, but always retains her dignity while exposing the cruel system that oppresses her.

Biography

Vanaja (2006)

Filmography

Vanaja (2006)

Dates

21	03.10.2007	17:00	Festsaal
59	06.10.2007	19:00	Kommkino