The Other Song
Filmmaker: Saba Dewan
India / 2009 / 120 min
Awards: Winner: Best Documentary Award, Pusan Film Festival 2009
ICA Cinema 2, March 9, 8.30pm & ICA Cinema 2, March 10, 8.30pm
A beautifully filmmed journey through the almost-forgotten songs of traditional Indian thumri singing.
A documentary about Rasoolan Bai, an Indian thumri singer, whose memory seems virtually lost to modern India. Director Dewan’s fascination in Bai and her most famous song, “My heart is wounded” widens out into an exploration of her own family’s musical tradition and personal histories. Dewan finds inspiration in the songs of a courtesan to her suitors expressed also in the gorgeous cinematography of Varanasi.
Saba Dewan
Saba Dewan is based in New Delhi. Her work focuses on gender, sexuality and culture and her most widely seen documentaries are Dharmayuddha (Holy War, 1989), Nasoor (Festering Wound, 1991), Khel (The Play, 1994), Barf (Snow, 1997) and Sita's Family (2001).
