Bhairava (2018)
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A short dance film.
“Bhairava” evokes facets of Shiva, the Lord of Dance, as both the destroyer of evil and the guardian of time. He is fierce and drives terrible deeds, but he is also the Divine Protector and Supreme Guardian; his intention springs from pure compassion.
In this work, carried by a strong and deeply evocative musical score and by the singular energy of the ancient site of Hampi, dancer and choreographer Shantala Shivalingappa embodies the presence and distinctive qualities of Bhairava. With her technical mastery and refined expressivity, she alternates between moments of precise symbolic gestures and more abstract body language surging from the powerful and omnipresent persona of Bhairava, creating a vivid incarnation of the deity.
“A film of great elegance, centered on an exceptional performer. Shantala Shivalingappa… is able to compete inside the image and within this majestic landscape, and makes the landscape move with her. The cinematography is beautiful but never intrudes into the experience; the sound connects the dancer with the ground she dances on; the film skilfully weaves together its elements to create a beautiful portrait of a dancer.”
— CINEDANS, AMSTERDAM, MARCH 2018
The
teaser ❯
The 14-minute site-specific dance-for-camera film was filmed on location in Anegundi and Hampi, India in February 2017.
Credits
Director: Marlene Millar & Philip Szporer
Choreographer, Dancer: Shantala Shivalingappa
Cinematographer: Kes Tagney
Writers: Marlene Millar, Shantala Shivalingappa, Philip Szporer
Editor: Marlene Millar
Sound Editor/Mix: Dino Giancola
Musical Composition: Ramesh Jetty
Musicians: Ramesh Jetty, B.P.Haribabu, N.Ramakrishnan, Jayaram Kikkeri Suryanarayan
Producers: Marlene Millar & Philip Szporer
Production Company / Distributor: Mouvement Perpétuel