A firm believer in the power of movement to tell a story, experimental filmmaker Gia Singh Arora, the director of Fall, decided to approach the kanjivaram in a new light. She chose to view the sari as a beautifully free and open piece of fabric that could take many shapes. As part of the process, the dancer, stylist and director spent time experimenting with the sari to discover the ways in which the fabric could move-tying a knot here, swirling it through the air there.
Gia created space for the dancer to explore the many possibilities for engagement with the sari, and much of the film series is a result of this improvisation.Fall was filmed entirely in reverse. This was challenging not only because every single element had to be carefully choreographed to have the desired visual effect, but also because in reverse film, reaction precedes action. Thus, the dancer’s expressions in reaction to a movement would have to happen in reverse as well. This goes against almost everything one is traditionally taught about acting, performing and directing. Every take had to be shot and viewed simultaneously in reverse, to see what it would look like in the final edit.
Most often, dance is choreographed to music, so that movements are designed to meet the rhythm. For Fall, the music was scored once the films were made. This allowed for a unique freedom in the process, revealing what happens when dance and movement are separated from music.
Here’s the team that made this project happen !
Director: Gia Singh Arora
Concept: Ekavalli Foundation / Gia Singh Arora
DOP: Vivian Sahi
Dancer: Mukta Nagpal
Choreography: Mukta Nagpal and Gia Singh Arora
Editor: Geeta Singh, Rucha Prabhune
Background Score (Video): The Music Factory
Background Score (Images): Abhishek Shindolkar
Photographer: Gourab Pal
Stylist: Yvonne Monteiro Colorist: Anhjin Kakar
Director’s Assistants: Sashaya Shetty
Assistant Directors: Raaj & Dohaan Kohli
Head of Production – Rajendra Upadhaya
Production executive – Zakir Hussain & Chirag ThakkarProduced by: DJ’s A Creative Unit
Kanakavalli/ Ekavalli Liaison
Harini & Hema
Read related content –
- Gia Singh Arora : Fall
October 11, 2019
Gia Singh Arora is an experimental filmmaker-artist, performer and dancer, who completed her undergraduate studies from Ashoka University studying English Literature and Performing Arts. Her current work tries to capture and navigate dance on film rather than on the stage. Her interest in film is marked by how to best allow the body to share …more
- Fall : Of Love and Longing
October 11, 2019
The Ekavalli Foundation, a Kanakavalli initiative, is delighted to present Fall. As part of the foundation’s efforts to engage with different forms of art and media to find common threads with the kanjivaram craft, it commissioned a unique film project, conceptualised in collaboration with Gia Singh Arora. This series of films, directed by Gia, weaves …more