Lajwanti is a folktale written by Vijaydan Detha. He is one of the few folktale writer born in Rajasthan and wrote 800 short stories. Lajwanti is a plant with a nature of sensitivity and shyness. In Rajasthan we also call this plant "Chui mui", it is available easily around. In this film the lead character Lajwanti is played by Sanghmitra Hittaishi, an Indian and European actress. Who acted in various short and full films and in some TV series. The Man with Doves in this film played by Pushpendra Singh. A trained actor from FTII and a director. He worked as an assistant director with Amit Dutta. This film is his debut feature film as a director. The film revolves around the two characters Lajwanti and The Man with Doves. Lajwanti, a shy and newly beautiful married woman trying to be a perfect wife. A lonely woman who wanders in the desert alone and wonders about her very existence and recognition. The Man with Doves roams in the village through the desert in the search of doves. He avoids human contact and walks away from them in his own rhythm to heed his myth. He wants to complete his childhood dream and after completing he will get his dreamy woman.
The film was shot in the Rajasthan village capturing the very essence of daily life, with wide shots of landscape with character alone in it. Background score with Rajasthani folk songs and natural sound of nature gives a feel of old Rajasthani village. Camera is so settled that while watching, it felt like we were there and watching all this happening from very far. And when it moves it feels like the camera is moving with the pace of its surroundings. Startling use of natural light by the cinematographer. Narration helps to understand what's going on into the story because the story runs in an abstract way. Conversations are beautiful b/w characters and the silence played a very beautiful role in this film. After every scene there is some kind of silence which gives a kind of peace.
The film also depicts the picture of women and men in our society. What a woman thinks about them or what a man thinks about them through the lense of a woman.It secretly asks the question of love. A love of a woman toward a man. And the choices a woman makes to get what she deserves or something deep she feels for. This film is a musical, cultural, regional treat of Rajasthan with unconventional love story.
