By Sumita Sheth

Mark Twain said, "There is only one right form for a story, and if you fail to find that form the story will not tell itself." In the case of the film Vanaja, its director, writer and editor, Rajnesh Domalpalli, seems to have found exactly that one right way. That is why he made a feature film about a foreign subject, in a foreign language, in 35 mm film, using previously untrained actors – all of this against all his mentor’s advice as well as all current conventional filmmaking wisdom! The result is stunning. Winner of 16 film awards worldwide and praised everywhere for its craft and simple beauty, Vanaja is a movie that engages its audience with its emotions and intelligence.

Rajnesh Domalpalli wrote, directed and produced this labor of love, which opens in New York and around the US this Fall. It is the story of two very strong women, 14-year-old Vanaja and the area’s landlady. As the landlady’s lackey reminds her, spirited Vanaja is much like she was at that age. However, the similarity ends there; for while the fiery older woman has everything, Vanaja appears to have very little besides her steely spirit; the landlady was born into a high-caste ruling class, Vanaja is a poor fisherman’s daughter. Thus their life stories can never be the same. This movie is about their interactions, their relationship and ultimately their war as they both fight for their next of kin, resulting in an unforgettably real ending.

Interestingly enough, tragedy in the story usually strikes due to the interference of men in these two women’s lives. And it is by listening to the men closest to them that they ultimately succumb to what the screenwriter, director refers as the “only one escape”

This movie brings something fresh. While it handles the age-old, stereotypical subjects of class-distinction, poverty and female subjugation in India, it does so in a unique manner so that the moviegoer walks away mulling over the storyline, considering the dialogue, perhaps even the couple of jerking jumps in editing. However the usual Art Film affect is avoided – instead of being bogged down by an utter sense of despair, one feels lively curiosity, perhaps due to the energy of the eponymous heroine Vanaja herself.

Actress Mamatha Bhukya, playing Vanaja gave the kind of performance that can only be described as phenomenal. And this is not just because she was previously an untrained actress or that she had never danced before, when the pivotal part of the movie is about her being an excellent dancer. Whether it be the dance portions, acting as a mother, being saucy or participating in a street-style war of wits with the boys, she was believable and enjoyable throughout.

PROS:
*Actress Mamatha Bhukya is phenomenal as an actress and dancer
*The real and new handling of what have become stereotypes elsewhere

CONS:
*A slight feeling that the story jumps ahead before you have had time to decipher what happened at times – perhaps an intentional editorial choice?

RECOMMENDATION:
Watch this touching movie. You will not regret it!

Running Time: 111 minutes