Athens Event: New Film Debut at Cine

"Vanaja", winner of "Best Debut" at this year's Berlin Film Festival, is coming to Cine of Athens this Friday for a short run. A film set in India (hence the photo of South Mumbai's Gateway to India), "Vanaja" is the student project of writer-director Rajnesh Domalpalli and his thesis for Columbia University.

"Vanaja," an "emphathetic treament" portrayed by non-professionals living in the village where Mr. Domalpalli shot, is a study of an alcoholoic low-caste fisherman's daughter, living in a rural town. Vanaja's dreams of being a dancer keeps her sane through her days working in house of the local rich woman, Rama Devi. Ms. Devi unknowingly teaches Kuchipudi to Vanaja, who gains the strength to perform in public and attracts the attention of Devi's less than scrupulous son, Shekhar. The rest can be described as a conflict of class and gender, deeply hinting at Domalpalli's underscored social criticism.

"Vanaja" starts running on Friday, December 7th at Cine...the film geek rumor mill has it that Indian beer and Indian snacks may be served at Cine, making the ticket price and chance to see a foreign film in Athens all that more enticing.

Special thanks to Raj D. for the scoop.