Sunday, March 31, 2019

Janani's Juliet

HD/ 2019/ 52 min / Tamil with English Subtitles
(India's Official entry to the Oscar's)



Director, Camera, Sound Design & Editing -- Pankaj Rishi Kumar
Associate Director and Location Sound -- C. Vinayak Ram
Sound Mixing -- Pritam Das
Producer -- PSBT
 
Best Long Documentray Prize at IDSFFK.
Human Rights Prize at Fine Arts Film Festival- Venice, California, USA
Best Long Documentray Prize at IDSFFK, Trivandrum, India
Best Film, Signs Film Festival, Thrissur, India
Best Film, Panchjanyam Film Festival, India
Satyajit Ray Award for the Best Documentary, South Asia Film Festival
Mrinal Sen Award for the Best Direction, South Asia Film Festival
Special Jury Prize South Asian Film Festival of Montreal
Best Film, Bollywoodindies Film Festival, India
 


Synopsis
Kausalya lost her husband (Shankar), when they were attacked by her own family. They had married against their families wishes. Deeply disturbed by a spate of honor killings in India, Indianostrum, a Pondicherry based theatre groups sets out to introspect the implications of caste, class and gender. They adapt Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. What emerges in the process is a critical reflection and commentary of the contemporary world where love struggles to survive.

Pankaj Rishi Kumar subtly keeps introducing the layers of complexity into the film by weaving-in the making of the play, “Chandala”. The dialogue between the theatre director and the actors to adapt the play into the Indian context works as a Greek chorus and keeps the viewer engaged. “You are Juliet’s messengers to me,” the director tells the women cast. As they dig deeper into their own psyche, we also question – why it was all about Romeo even in Shakespeare’s time. Why do we not know more about Juliet? … A poetic, political exploration of love (Kavita & Nandan--thehindu.com)



Official Selection Competition - Fine Arts Film Festival (Venice, California), Hamilton Arts Festival (USA), Sierra International Film Festival (Bolivia), Sevil International Women's Festival, Baku, Azerbaijan, Salto FF(Uruguay), Asian FF(California), Santa Cruz (Argentina), FSA Kathmandu, Kolkata FF, Auroville FF, Kalaburagi FF, LIFFT India Fimotsav, Great Indian FF, Aravali FF

Official Selection - Oregon State FF, Peak City (NC, USA), Hamilton Arts Festival (USA), Mesa-Arizona (USA), REAKTOR Film Festival Vienna, Multicultural Film Festival Toronto, CeMIS FF -University of Göttingen, Indian FF of Boston, South Asian FF--York Canda, Indian FF of Bubhaneswar, Open Frame FF, Madurai FF, Kolkata People's FF, Chennai Documentary Festival, International Theater Festival of Kerala, International Cinema festival (Indore), Golden Jury International FF, Kalakari FF, Mallu Filmfest, Lightschool Screen (DRI Kolkata), Mysuru Film Festival, Blackboard Film Festival, Jharkhand Film Awards, Hornbill FF

Reviews
1--- https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/romeos-caste-conundrum-jananis-juliet-5832919/
2---- A documentary traces the making of ‘Chandala: The Impure’, a play that weaves caste politics into ‘Romeo and Juliet’
3-- https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/jananis-juliet-oscars-documentary-exploring-caste-and-love-has-gowsalya-centre-109404
4 -- https://www.cinestaan.com/reviews/janani-s-juliet-43174
5 -- https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/juliet-by-any-other-name-as-you-like-it
6 -- tinyurl.com/yzy46tny

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