ROOTS FOR RIVER CAUVERY

TitleROOTS FOR RIVER CAUVERY
BrandSAVE RIVER CAUVERY FOUNDATION
Product / ServiceROOTS FOR RIVER CAUVERY
CategoryA05. Cinematography
EntrantCOCONUT FILMS Mumbai, INDIA
Idea Creation SAVE RIVER CAUVERY FOUNDATION Bangalore, INDIA
Production COCONUT FILMS Mumbai, INDIA
Production 2 COCONUT FILMS Mumbai, INDIA

Credits

Name Company Position
Tushar Raut Coconut Films Producer
Bopanna Ganesh Coconut Films Director
Kartik Vijay Freelancer Cinematographer
Suzanna Kurian Epsilon Creative Director

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

The film depicts the aftermath of the destruction caused by extreme landslides and floods that affected the people of Coorg, Karnataka in India. This was caused because of heavy rain and an overflowing river which was a result of destruction to the surrounding ecological system due to excess development. Massive loss of life and livelihood occurred. It is a call to the people to come together and become whole once again and rebuild their lives and work towards sustaining the environment. Juxtaposing roots and trees with feet of people was meant to symbolise the strength that every individual has. Stand tall and strong. The film also tells the viewers to respect the river Kaveri and maintain the eco system in the land to prevent further natural calamities. The river Kaveri is very sacred to the inhabitants of Coorg. This film is meant to speak to every individual.

Cultural/Context information for the jury

Our belief is that only when we increase our affinity to the river and traditions around her, will people actually find the will to fight for and save her. The river Kaveri is the main deity of the Kodavas, original inhabitants of Coorg. The river has sustained the people within the region for hundreds of years. Using cultural symbols such as the spiritual dancer (meant to symbolise an angry goddess) , the pot in the water(meant to symbolise the river flowing away), the three men holding the gun and two swords(the symbols of the Kodavas),the dancing girls, is a way of telling people to never forget where they come from. Be the roots. The song used is a hundred years old and is an ode to the goddess Kaveri asking her not to leave the land and be there for the people. It is deep rooted in Indian mythology.

Tell the jury anything relevant about the cinematography.

The path that we took visually was to show the desolation and destruction that was left in the wake of the landslides and flooding. Hence the slow moving camera and handheld style to make the viewer feel that they were right there in the thick of it. In no way did we want to treat the visuals as poverty porn. We had to justify ourselves as human beings and be true to the situation we were addressing. We used black and white as a colour scheme to draw attention to the plight faced by the people affected. And also to not show a distinction between people from all walks of life.

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