Conventional wisdom is that filmmakers think in images, writers think in words. Imagine this. When a director thinks in images eerily poetic, and she is also a screenplay-writer/lyricist, it is a felicitous fusion. The best crucible of creativity. And when you have a producer with the courage to back this rare creativity that departs from the mainstream formula, magic happens.
The magic maker is Anvitaa Dutt, the scriptwriter, lyricist turned director, whose two films have left the audience floating on a sea of enthrallment while disturbing undertows pull you into depths of anger and despair. She is two films old - Qala preceded by Bulbbul - and they are unique, each a minor masterpiece in its own way. They are real and yet limned with fantasy that is not escapist but subversive. Subversion that is subtly hinted at and then turns brutally violent.
Dutt's films demand a chronological exploration because, in the space of two years, she shows her mastery of narrative finesse in two very different genres. Common to the latest Qala and the earlier Bulbbul is immersive storytelling through artful colour saturation to convey a host of meanings beyond words. Music and silence, apparent opposites, complement each other to add another dimension. Stunning, surreal, haunting, disturbing... one searches for adjectives to describe her films that are grounded in reality, but phantom winds fly the narrative to supernatural realms. But again, the supernatural, of chudail the demon woman, is the myth spun with delicate precision by a wronged woman. The supernatural validates an abused woman's vengeance. Bulbbul's colour saturation creates a palpable texture, rich in subtext and literary association.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Most Expensive Made-In-India Cars
From Mercedes limousines to variants of the flagship Land Rover, a surprising number of luxury flagship models are now locally assembled or produced in India
Making Noise In Quiet
Manik Handa of Eudaemon explains what it truly takes to define quiet luxury in India’s crowded retail market
Luggage Travails of a Frequent Flyer
Luxury and semi-luxury luggage are the new fashion frontier amongst the Indian jet set. Our writer though recommends extreme caution, unless you are the kind who can afford to fly in private jets
Ruling The Street
Either through imitation or rejection, streetwear continues to dominate the wardrobe of young India. We talk to those who follow the scene closely to understand its rise in status
Street Cred
Royal Enfield’s Guerrilla 450 is a thoroughly fun and exciting motorcycle—it is not that the Himalayan has just tidied up for a visit to the city
Now Serving.Indigenous India
India's culinary scene is buzzing with a quiet revolution, fueled by a vibrant comeback of hyperlocal ingredients. This movement isn't just about digging up fresh, local produce from across the nation—it's about rediscovering the deep, rich tapestry of India's diverse culinary heritage
CHAITANYA AKKINENI OF OLD LOVES AND NEW
The Akkineni-Daggubati family scion is starting a new phase, and life is looking more exciting than ever
Independence Movement
As we step into India's 77th year of Independence, we're shining the spotlight on four stunning timepieces, all designed from within the nation's borders
Precision in Motion
How Alain Zobrist and Omega Time the Olympics
The New Frontier
While India witnesses a massive growth in the number of global skincare brands entering the market, an increasing number of homegrown brands takeover the space and trust among consumers