Ramji Thakkar, Bhimji Thakkar (70 min; dvd; 2016; Gujarati/English & with subtitles)

Director: Shwetal Bhatt

 

Screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker

 

The film explores the urban history of Navratri, and its social context in an urban setup. It also seeks to highlight the role played by the city of Baroda in shaping the festival as well as the folk dance (garba), which is inseparably associated with the festival. It is essentially an urban Indian woman’s quest to understand what makes the festival as it is celebrated today in her hometown. The film is a combination of interviews and live footage about some rare books, old photographs, archival footage and mesmerising music

 

(Collaboration: Gujarati Club)