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IMDb > Vanaja (2006)
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Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   207 votes
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Down 7% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Rajnesh Domalpalli
Writer:
Rajnesh Domalpalli (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Vanaja on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
31 August 2007 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
Vanaja, the 15 year old daughter of a financially troubled fisherman goes to work in the local landlady's house in hopes of learning Kuchipudi dance... more | add synopsis
Awards:
26 wins & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
An extraordinary film! more

Cast

  (Credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
USA:111 min
Country:
India | USA
Language:
Telugu
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital EX
Company:
Varija Films more

FAQ

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4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful:-
An extraordinary film!, 17 October 2007
10/10
Author: Red-125 from Upstate New York

Vanaja (2006), written and directed by Rajnesh Domalpalli, is an extraordinary film from South India. Mamatha Bhukya plays 15-year-old Vanaja, who lives in a rural area with her loving but alcoholic father. If she is going to succeed in life, she will have to overcome the liabilities of low caste and poverty.

I went to the film expecting the depiction of an wretched girl who is crushed by society. This isn't what "Vanaja" shows us. The young woman is attractive, intelligent, and ambitious. She won't accept her fate with tears or simple resignation. She wants to succeed, and it's never clear that she won't succeed, despite the odds.

The acting that Mr. Domalpalli draws forth from his cast of amateurs is miraculous. Mamatha Bhukya is outstanding in the title role, and Urmila Dammannagari does an exceptional job as Mrs. Rama Devi, the wealthy landowner who is a formerly famous classical dancer.

In the film Vanaja learns South Indian classical dance, as she did in real life. I couldn't tell how good Vanaja's dancing was by Indian standards, but the many dance scenes were spellbinding. (Don't think Bollywood--this is classical dance. It's also very different from ballet, because in ballet the dancer lifts her heels away from the floor. In Sound Indian dance, the heel is the primary contact point.)

This is a movie that is not to be missed. It will work on DVD, but will be better on a theater screen because the dancing will be shown to better advantage. However, if DVD is your only option, then see it that way. Just be sure to see it.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Vanaja (2006)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Vanaja matthew-platt
Awesome Movie... Dae1
Amazing music!! stan-geurts
Vanaja showing at Tongues on Fire Asian Film Festival, London March 08 tonguesonfire-1
How good was the dancing? Red-125
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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb India section Add this title to MyMovies

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