FILM REVIEW - Vanaja

Description:
Vanaja, the 15 year old daughter of a financially troubled fisherman goes to work in the local landlady?s house in hopes of learning Kuchipudi dance. She does well, but when the Landlady?s son returns from the US, what begins as innocent sexual chemistry turns ugly, ending in a rape ? a rape of a minor. Set in rural South India, a place where social barriers are built stronger than ancient fort walls, the film explores the chasm that divides classes as a young girl struggles to come of age.
Berlin 2007 Toronto 2006
1. Best First Feature, Berlin Intl. Film Festival 2007 2. Best Narrative Feature, IAAC, New York 2006 3. Special Mention, Hamptons Intl. Film Festival 2006 4. Prix CIFEJ, Cairo Intl. Film Festival 2007 5. Special Intl. Jury Prize, Cairo Intl. Film Festival 2007 6. Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Award, Chennai, India 2007 7. Best Feature Film, Memphis Intl. Film Festival 2007 8. Best Intl. Film, Sacramento Intl. Film Festival 2007 9. Best Actress, Sacramento Intl. Film Festival 2007 10. Platinum Remi Best Intl.