Hellaro, National Award-winning Gujarati film, is a beautiful ode to female desire and defiance
The arrival of spring in India now guarantees the resurfacing of an annual viral story. The celebration of Holi by the widows of Vrindavan, covered in original reportage and spectacular photo stories, envelopes one’s social media feed with increasing frequency. Sulabh International, an NGO which has worked to provide food and shelter to these women, kickstarted the practice back in 2013, to bring about social assimilation and acceptance. At the time, Bindeshwar Pathak, Sulabh’s founder commented, “As widows do not play Holi traditionally in Vrindavan, the event may need some amount of attitudinal change in the mindset of the society.” While the initiative, now gearing up for its eighth iteration, certainly seems to have overcome the roadblocks of tradition, progressive change is no easy task, as women of a remote Kutch village can attest.
Drought has ravaged the tranquility of daily life. Government and development are abstract concepts. The isolation of their existence is so complete that even the imposition of an Emergency is dismissed in jest. Religion, customs, and history are the only recognised symbols of governance, wielded by the men of the village with a ruthless bureaucracy. The men can perform Garba, the Gujarati folk dance, while women are barred from doing the same. Men offer a prayer for rain and mercy to a Goddess, as much a part of their routine as their mistreatment and neglect of the women in their houses.
Abhishek Shah’s Hellaro draws its central conflict from a Kutch folktale about subjugated women meeting a drummer (dholi) in secret and dancing to their heart’s content. The film’s straightforward story is enlivened by its treatment and nuanced angles. The commentary is not just limited to the horrors of patriarchy but also examines caste-based violence, trauma, and blind-faith. The film not only won the National Award For Best Feature Film (the first Gujarati film to do so) but saw the 13 leading women winning a Special Jury Award; a result of not just great ensemble performance but also a clever break in storytelling.
Ranveer Singh Gives off Perfect Gujarati Vibes in Jayeshbhai Jordaar First Look
Ranveer Singh's JayeshbhaiJordaar will see him taking on the role of a Gujarati man and indeed it is a new character for Ranveer, who has been helming the wave of experimentation in Bollywood for sometime now. The actor's first look from JayeshbhaiJordaar was unveiled today and seems like Ranveer, once again, has slipped into the skin of his character effortlessly. He seems to have shed weight for the film too.
Ranveer can be seen wearing an orange, polo-neck T-shirt with print and faded black jeans, but his wavy hairstyle takes the cake. Interestingly, Ranveer also sports a new moustache for the film and looks quirky in the first look poster. He seems to protecting women, who have covered their faces with veils, from something approaching as he breaks the fourth wall. Reportedly, JayeshbhaiJordaar will talk about how judgmental the society is about women. Ranveer plays an ordinary man who ends up doing something extraordinary when he is hurled into a threatening situation. The film is directed by Divyang Thakkar and produced by Yash Raj Studios.
During a recent interview, Ranveer pointed out how the makers were trying to get a tone of the film. With first poster out, seems like they have started on a good note. Check out Ranveer's look from Jayeshbhai Jordaar below:
