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synopsis

Kayantar (Metamorphosis)

Aasia belongs to a clan of Bahurupis – indigenous street cosplay performers - who dress up as Hindu deities despite being Muslims by birth. She wants to adopt her father Ali’s art of metamorphosing into Kali, the black Goddess of Time, Power and Liberation, but is not allowed to do so because she is a woman. Instead, the now decrepit Ali, forces the traditional family profession onto his son Aslam who detests it fearing ridicule, persecution and its waning popularity. Despite poverty and hardship the small family lives freely in the fringes of the village society in the lap of nature influenced by the religious syncretism of the Baul-Fakir mystics, tolerated by both Hindus and Muslims. But a sudden surge of religious fundamentalism is raising a storm in the society that will transform their lives forever.
Set in the backdrop of the lush green tapestry of rural Bengal while narrating a story rooted in its milieu, the film reflects themes of universal concern. It takes an insightful look into the age-old evils of gender binaries, religious fundamentalism and communal disharmony plaguing human society even today and is an earnest cinematic appeal to look beyond such myopic glasses of discrimination and celebrate humanity simply as human beings.

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film details

Name of the Film:
Kayantar (Metamorphosis)
Director:
Rajdeep Paul and Sarmistha Maiti
Producer:
Anjan Bose
Production Company:
Aurora Film Corporation P. Ltd.
Music:
Avijit Kundu
Writer:
Rajdeep Paul & Sarmistha Maiti
Cinematographer:
Rana Pratap Karforma
Editor:
Sarmistha Maiti & Rajdeep Paul
Audiographer:
Anindit Roy and Adeep Singh Manki
Colorist:
Kaushik Ray
Cast:
Madhurima Tarafder, Subhankar Mohanta, Janardan Ghosh
Duration:
29 minutes
Year of Release:
2019
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Festival(s) / Award(s)

  • Official Selection in Chicago South Asian Film Festival, 2019
  • Official Selection in Mustard Seed Film Festival, 2019
  • Official Selection in Tasveer South Asian film Festival, Seattle, 2019
  • Official Selection in NYC South Asian film Festival, 2019
  • Official Selection in Kolkata International Film Festival, 2019
  • Official Selection in WoodPecker International Film Festival, 2019
  • Official Selection in Imagine India International Film Festival, Madrid, 2020