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Vanaja

Mamatha Bhukya (Actor), Urmila Dammannagari (Actor), Rajnesh Domalpalli (Director) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
4.4 out of 5 stars 21 customer reviews
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Special Features

None.

Product Details

  • Actors: Mamatha Bhukya, Urmila Dammannagari, Ramachandriah Marikanti, Krishnamma Gundimalla, Karan Singh
  • Directors: Rajnesh Domalpalli
  • Format: Multiple Formats, NTSC, Widescreen, Dolby, Surround Sound, Subtitled
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated:
    Unrated
    Not Rated
  • Studio: Vanaja The Film, LLC
  • DVD Release Date: March 24, 2008
  • Run Time: 112 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0013K8LC0
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,027 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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  • Learn more about "Vanaja" on IMDb

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsOutstanding Indian drama about class and choices
By Gerard D. Launay on May 2, 2008
Format: DVD
Lovers of foreign cinema will not want to miss this simple,yet moving story of a young girl from an inferior class who wants to make something of herself through dance. Music, dance, color all add to the splendor of this film, but what really makes it work is the strong performance of the lead character - a young girl who challenges her position in society by seeking out a great teacher of Indian classical dance. After some difficulty, she persuades the teacher to give her private lessons at no charge.

Problems occur when she disobeys her teacher, and when she attracts the sexual interest of the teacher's son. Everything about this film feels authentic. It is neither a scathing comment on the plight of the poor or the caste system, nor an overly sentimentalized version of a person overcoming her social disabilities. Recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA true work of art and a masterpiece
By Sreeram Dhurjaty on July 22, 2008
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
The movie is in Telugu with English subtitles and not in Hindi as a another reviewer suggests.

I was fortunate to attend a private screening of this movie, in NYC, by the director Domalpalli. This movie is a true work of art reminiscent of early Satyajit Ray. Knowledge of the Telugu language enhances the experience that this movie conveys, even with excellent subtitles.

Using amateur actors Domalpalli has captured the strains of the caste and class system which are real in rural India. There are many poignant scenes in this movie where the aspirations of a young girl are pitted against the shackles of class and caste. Each character in this film adds to the rich dimensionality of emotions that are conveyed by this film This film has made very good use of color and sound in order to enhance the visual as well as auditory experience..

Unlike "bollywood" movies where there are characters that are only good or bad, each character in this movie exhibits both qualities, to a greater or lesser extent, and the depiction of these is a tribute to the Director's artistry.

I would have expected this film to be more popular especially, in India, where it has not been released. The lack of financial resources seems to have handicapped the producer and director in giving this film the much wider audience that it richly deserves. I also suspect that this movie is too close for comfort to some who would rather sweep issues, such as caste and class, under the rug.
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4.0 out of 5 stars"Only Goddess Parvati Will Rival You In Dance"
By Brian E. Erland HALL OF FAMEVINE VOICE on May 18, 2008
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
Note: Hindi with English subtitles.

To be honest, I have to admit to having mixed feelings about `Vanaya', the award winning Indian film from '07. Immediately enthralled at the beginning by the exotic and beautifully captured visuals of rural India, the mesmerizing Kuchipudi music and dancing and the innocent, genuine charm of its young star Mamatha Bhukya I couldn't wait for the story to unfold.

Unfortunately midway through the film the storyline abruptly changes course with the arrival of Shekhar (Karan Singh) a potential love interest and eventual male antagonist. This addition delegated the music and dance aspect of the film to a minor subplot substituting class struggle, caste system concerns and gender issues in its place. In my opinion in doing so they ultimately neglect the most appealing aspect of the story.

Please don't mistake this slight personal disappointment of mine to mean that this isn't an excellent film because it definitely is. I just feel it would have been more effective as an exploration of the cultural and spiritual roots of the dance rather than the social commentary it evolved into. Nevertheless 'Vanaja' is a quality film that deserves to be seen by a wide audience. Recommended viewing.
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3.0 out of 5 starsVanaja - complex Telugu story
By ubalu on November 29, 2009
Format: DVD
Pretty bad show.

The writer/director mentions that this movie does not have an audience in India. It may be for two reasons. It is a depressing story, and the direction is generally done in poor/mediocre taste by an amateur (part of this movie was the director's thesis for a Film Degree). It has brought out the evils of the society, the caste system, and the arrogance of the some high caste members, which many Indians may not want to face.

The writer/director has done well with the script. The photography is very good. The rural setting is painstakingly paid attention to, and can be nostalgic for those who miss rural India.

The best part of the movie is the dances. Mamatha has done a superb job playing her part and dancing. She is very charming, and speaks well in her interview.
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4.0 out of 5 starsAn Entertaining Movie
By locust on January 6, 2013
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
The story behind this movie and the movie itself was made by a graduate student at Columbia University as part of his doctoral thesis. It addresses head-on the casteism and other social mores in a rural area of South India thru the tale of a teenaged girl who has the desire to learn classical dance. It is not a "glamsham" blockbuster type of movie, nor is it intended to be. Recommended for serious viewers.
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5.0 out of 5 starsInsightful movie about the caste system in India
By Z Hayes HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWER on September 18, 2009
Format: DVD
"Vanaja" is a Telugu movie (with English subtitles) which won a couple of film awards, most notably the Best First Feature award at the Berlin International Film Festival. The movie explores the life of a low-caste, impoverished young girl, 15-year-old Vanaja [Mamatha Bhukya] who lives with her fisherman father in a little village in Andhra Pradesh, India. The girl is bright, and eager to learn, but financial need necessitates her taking a job in the household of Rama Devi, a rich local landlady. Rama Devi is well-versed in the Indian dance form Kuchipudi, and when Vanaja shows an interest, the landlady agrees to instruct her. Things seem to go really well for Vanaja, as she matures into a competent dancer, until the landlady's son returns from the States.

The story up to this point was a joy to watch, as the viewer gets to see an awkward young girl, who is also very poor, come into her own. The dance sequences have a certain air of innocence to them as Vanaja learns the movements and begins to compete. But the story, predictably [this being a social commentary film] takes a dark turn. Vanaja's sexual awakening is explored in brief, something that leads to an unwanted pregnancy, resulting in questions - will Vanaja abort or keep the baby? How will this impact her dancing? Does she have a future? Can she overcome the constraints imposed by the harsh, unforgiving caste system?

Mamatha Bhukya may appear too young to play a 15-year-old [she seems more like 12 or 13], but she plays her role to perfection. Her performance mesmerizes from the first scene till the last. There is an air of innocence and naivete about her, but also a shrewdness and street smartness that makes her wise up to the ways of the world very quickly.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsInteresting story line. I did not care for the ...

Interesting story line. I did not care for the open ending.

Published 1 month ago by Always searching for amazing bargains!
5.0 out of 5 starsReal Life Displayed

Vanaja, this is a well thought and real life depiction of a young girls life. While that might be a bit less than positive, it is real. I enjoyed the honesty conveyed in the movie.

Published 8 months ago by lucipearl
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Vanaja is excellent.

Published 9 months ago by Savoy055
5.0 out of 5 starsLoved the choreography

Unique and appealing vision of a fading part of Indian culture. Loved the choreography. Mamatha Bhukya is a delight to watch. Excellent directing. Worth owning.

Published 12 months ago by Cherokee Sky
5.0 out of 5 stars... and colors are quite bright that it doesn't look like a debutante...

The characters are so vivid and pictures and colors are quite bright that it doesn't look like a debutante movie.

Published 21 months ago by Sathish
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

special!!!

Published 21 months ago by Edda Koehn
2.0 out of 5 starsDone on blind faith by me.

Got a defective DVD so was unable to play it on any of 3?DVD players or the two computers I tried. I bought it on the promise in the marketing messages but the product was... Read more

Published on October 13, 2013 by Old Hand at Tech
5.0 out of 5 starswhat a gem!

For those who are taken by rhythms of India, it's daily cares and challenges, and for those who love dance, this movie astounds with a beauty natural and deep. Read more

Published on August 22, 2013 by charles vega
2.0 out of 5 starsvery nice dance pieces, but did not portray a good message to young...

Enjoyed the dance pieces but the acting was subpar and inexperienced. I also didn't appreciate the demeaning portrayal of women and young girls in this movie, as if there was no... Read more

Published on February 19, 2013 by NWSteph83
3.0 out of 5 starsVanaja

Wish it was in Hindi, but, thank goodness for english subtitles. Vanaja has it's own flavour. I like it. Read more

Published on February 19, 2013 by Syra

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