Ashish Avikunthak's two films

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nishantsingh
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Ashish Avikunthak's two films

Post by nishantsingh »

Yesterday attended screening of Ashish's two films Kalighat Athikatha(short), Nirakar Chhaya(feature) which followed up with a long informal discussion, dinner etc.

Kalighat Athikatha(short) is about a bahrupiya who dresses as Kali, and rituals of sacrifice at a Kali temple in kolkata, Chanting of Mantras in audio space.
This is a straight forward juxtaposition of related images, one of Bahrupiya/Kali, its desires, the human in devine aspect and the ritualistic sacrifice of lambs in full detail. The experience accentuated by color treatment.

Nirakar Chhaya(feature)- film starts with a monologue and ends with the same monologue. In between exists a narrative of two sisters(one or both of them may or may not be schizophrenic, depending on the interpretations and experiences made by the viewer) and a man who could be a figment of their imagination.

If we divide the space in Known known, Known Unknown, Unknown known and Unknown unknown. Nirakar chhaya is an attempt to delve into unknown unknown and the outcome also remains unknown, as it has to be. So the narrative doesn't exist, the stylization is immaterial, time and space are warped and metaphors unrelated, what remains is the experience. The actual film/experience is made in the mind of viewer and each one will make a different one.
In fact, whatever film that exists in between the two monologues may or may not have happened as per the film maker's one of the interpretations. This insight helps in understanding the objectives filmmaker had in mind while making the film.

Well it is beyond my capacity to write any more for Nirakar Chhaya. Anyone who has seen more of Ashish's work please share your experience and views.
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