Review of Vanaja (2006) by Joyce L — 22 Sep 2007

I'm not sure I can completely articulate my feelings about this film. Still processing. I wasn't sure if I could even get through the entire film because it was so hard to watch the matter-of-fact story-telling of the often-times brutal life of Vanaja.

But this is exactly why the film was so good - the circumstances of Vanaja are common, I think, for many young girls/women in this world. And they live through it in a way that is not portrayed in our Hollywood movies - no chest-beating sobbing or murderful rage or deep contemplation.

It's simply lived-through. It would be easy for many people watching this film to find the story unbelievable because it seems so dramatic and the actions/emotions of the characters in response are so undramatic - in fact, a few people left the theater before the film was over.

But I think the film was so true to life, the circumstances so real - not movie-like, no neat endings, no smart lessons - that people had a hard time with it. I'm really glad I decided to sit through it to the end.

Especially since we were able to meet the lead actress, Mamatha Bhukya, a radiant 17 year old student with no previous dance or acting training. One last thing - the music and the dancing was just gorgeous.