Who wouldn’t find unravelling a riddle fascinating! More so if it’s shrouded in the myths and mysteries of the ancient world. National Award-winning filmmaker Suruchi Sharma’s short Gagan Gaman (Skyward) – which just had its world premiere at the MAMI Film Festival 2024 (under the ‘South Asia Focus’ section) – is an unsettling yet beguiling piece of abstract cinema that encourages women trapped in a whirlwind to ‘be courageous and do their thing’. Described as a folk-fiction experience from Rajasthan, the 30-minute movie uses powerful imagery to bespeak a woman’s memories, traumas, desires and dilemmas, laced with an equally striking soundscape (designed by Ajit Singh Rathore) that echoes the homespun songs of the land. Set in Jaipur, Gagan Gaman is a nuanced story of a young bride (played by Subrata Parashar), who finds herself sliding into a world of unresolved conundrum, as vignettes of confusing half stories, led by befuddled characters, flash in front of her eyes in an episodic pattern.
Written and directed by Suruchi, the narrative begins amid a religious ritual in a rustic setup, where a group of village women have gathered to offer prayers and retell the stories of Goddess Bemata (Gavari Devi Rao) – who is said to be tasked with the responsibility of penning the future of newborn children. ‘Stacks of destinies’ are delivered on a hilltop as women twist a long line of threads, ‘sorting and recycling people’s records’. Best known for her 2020 documentary Meen Raag, Suruchi envisions the conversation among Goddess Bemata, her ‘assistant’ Popa Bai (Jeevani Devi) and earthly beings in a reimagined construct where fear doesn’t necessarily trump aspirations. Dressed in traditional chaniya choli, women sing a folk song in tandem, as a shredder machine does its job on the side. When the bride arrives to ask for her pothi, she’s informed that although she has come looking for hope, it’s a ‘riddle that’s coming her way’. Her quest to solve the mystery behind a piece of lost jewel forms the crux of the story. The film’s gripping music is composed by Beatrice Thiriet.
In a lot of ways, Gagan Gaman (a Studio Ainak presentation, in association with The Rickshaw Group LLC, L’atelier de Beatrice Thiriet and Jane Himmeth Singh) is an ode to the traditional art of oral literature, which is intrinsic to the north Indian state of Rajasthan. It’s a bewitching form of folklore where reasoning jostles for space as realities blend into illusions. Using oral storytelling as a premise, Suruchi creates a modern tale that encourages women to stay curious and courageous, no matter what. As the woman embarks on a journey to unravel the mysteries that determine her destiny, her husband (Pankaj Sharma) looks on, confused and worried. She meets different people in a slew of cryptic situations and places that don’t overlap but dovetail. Every time she confronts a stranger, a new world unfolds, pulling her into a riddle that she must get to the bottom of in order to solve the bigger mystery. Inspired by the Goddess herself, she’s utterly resolute in solving the paheliyan and finding answers to the distorted interpretations of her circumstances.
From stepping inside an old library, eating ghevar and karela juice at a restaurant and climbing the stairs of an age-old fort to tearing out a wallpaper – the narrative employs an assortment of themes and plot devices to signify the anxiety and uncertainty that she faces in her quest. How she manages to sail through this haze of wonder and look at everything from a new perspective is what comprises the plot’s focal point. Abstract metaphors and compelling auditory elements are easily the most intriguing aspects of the movie. Don’t miss the enchanting sights of Jaipur (cleverly captured by cinematographer Ashok Meena). Suruchi has a keen eye for folk literature and a deep understanding of rustic cadence that define the very soul of the land. Subrata is brilliant as the lead character, as she embodies the riddle itself through her expressions and empathetic responses. Watch Gagan Gaman for the renewed relevance it brings to timeworn mysteries and their meanings. A special shoutout to the veteran artists (Gavari, Jeevani and Pappi Dewana) as well as the Dhancha singers who are very much the rhythm of the movie.
Gagan Gaman
Writer and director: Suruchi Sharma
Cast: Subrata Parashar, Pankaj Sharma, Bhawani Singh, Jeevan Deni and Gavari Devi Rao
Cinematography: Ashok Meena
Music: Beatrice Thiriet
Sound design: Ajit Singh Rathore
Rating: 3½ stars
(This review was originally published on The Movie Mail’s Instagram page)
