Vara: A Blessing

Director: Khyentse Norbu
Bhutan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka | English
2013 | 96min | Colour

Sunday, Nov 2
TIPA, 1:00 PM

In rural India, a young woman named Lila and her mother Vinata, a temple dancer wed to a Hindu god, find themselves on the fringes of society, struggling to make ends meet. Shyam, a low-caste village boy with dreams of becoming a sculptor in the city, asks Lila to model for him. Lila agrees, even though she knows that if they are discovered, both their lives will be in jeopardy.

Set against the lush countryside in an Indian village not yet caught up to the modern world, Vara: A Blessing seamlessly intertwines vivid dreamworlds of Hindu gods, classical Indian dance, and music. A timeless story of love and devotion from director Khyenste Norbu.

Khyentse Norbu

Born in 1961 in Bhutan, Khyentse Norbu was recognised as the main incarnation of the Khyentse lineage in Tibetan Buddhism. Trained in all main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Khyentse Norbu also had his academic pursuit in U.S.A., studying politics and filmmaking.

Bhutanese filmmaker Khyentse Norbu’s feature directorial debut The Cup (1999) became an international sensation after its premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious Director’s Fortnight. It went on to win critical acclaim and awards at major festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Toronto, and Busan. Norbu’s second film, Travellers & Magicians (2003), was the first full-length feature film shot in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Travellers & Magicians premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and went on to the Toronto and Busan International Film Festivals, before its international release.

Credits

Director:  Khyentse Norbu
Producer:  Nanette Nelms
Screenwriter:  Sunil Gangopadhyay (Short Story) | Khyentse Norbu (Screenplay)
Cinematographer: Bradford Young
Editor: William Chang
Music: Brian Godshall
Production Company: Moving Temple Films
Cast: Shahana Goswami, Ruvin De Silva, Mohamed Adamaly, Rohit Raj

Festival Appearances & Awards

Tribeca Online Film Festival, 2014 – Best Feature Film
Tribeca Film Festival, 2014
Beijing International Film Festival, 2014
Munich Film Festival, 2014
Asiatica Film Festival, 2013
Bengaluru International Film Festival, 2013
BFI London Film Festival, 2013
Busan International Film Festival, 2013
International Film Festival of India in Goa, 2013
International Film Festival of Kerala, 2013