From Konkan to Cannes! With ‘Chafa', 20 yr old girl leading her dreams only with creativity and courage

NewsBharati    08-Mar-2018
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The aroma of CHAFA- The golden flower- reaches Cannes Film Festival

Mumbai, March 8: On the Women’s Day, we are bringing to you the most inspiring and beautiful story of a girl who decided to own and follow her dreams. Manasi Devdhar is the name - 20-year-old who aspires to learn every technique behind the camera to design and decorate her dream of filmmaking.

 

Residing in the beautiful arms of nature called Akeri village in Konkan in Maharashtra, this girl has herself developed an eye for capturing liveliness and emotions in frames. On the occasion of International Women's Day, the special moment came in the life of Manasi as her well acclaimed short film Chafa has been selected for the most prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France.

Here is the official confirmation by Cannes De Festival

Remarkably, Chafa is Manasi’s debut film which has won many titles for sound editing, direction, picturisation and the list goes on. The short film has blended the difference between illusion and the reality in which we live.

NewsBharati had the opportunity to have an exclusive talk with filmmaker Manasi about her voyage in the filmmaking. Manasi tells that residing in the serene land of Akeri in Kudal, she always desired to portray the variety of aspirations the Konkan region embraces along with a fusion of nature and the sketches of life and beliefs of the common man who has devoted his life to his deity, his farming and his family.

Talking about conceptualising Chafa, Manasi tells: "I was interested in every kind of performing art, the singing, drama, dance, poetry, writing, painting, etc. But I can not do all that at a time. If you want to reach the world through all the arts and through the picture, then the only medium is the medium of visuals- the Film!.

And here came the perfect role and approach of guidance of Manasi’s parents. They told her the golden rule that if she is planning anything for a career, she must do it in an experimental way before actually jumping in it. That’s how ‘Chafa’, the short film was born!

Speaking about the language of Chafa, Manasi tells that the art is a language-less form which should reach directly into the hearts of each human being. Chafa doesn't contain a single dialogue but still, it connects and touches your mind and heart. It transmits into your thought process, some realisation emerges when you are watching the film. Through Chafa, Manasi depicts humans and their feeling and illusions. Besides Manasi’s wonderful frames as director, the camera work by Rahul Zende and music by Piyush Shah-Sarang Kulkarni is exceptionally transcending the aroma of Chafa to us.

Chafa says: “The line between reality and illusion often gets blurred. The illusion always looks more interesting than our routine & we try to change as the illusion demands. But what really changes? Chafa delves into these blurred lines where we try to figure out what’s better for us, the reality or the illusion.”


Being a Geography student, Manasi had developed a love for Cameras. She says that her parents are her backbone she believes reading and observing was her nudge towards capturing amazing shots. Also 'Mentor' is essential for leading the way towards the dream, she said.

'Chafa's nomination for Cannes is the example which sustains on the 'perseverance' and 'imagination'. It portrays how we relate and connect women especially with the smell, the aura and the vibes.

Women like her are what the society needs today as women are stopped by n number of excuses when it comes to fulfilling their dreams, but some of them stand and follow their dreams inspiring others to step in and carve good examples for others.

'Chafa's nomination for the prominent Cannes Film festival is a proud moment not limited to Manasi or her family; it is a feeling of honour for Maharashtra and more than that, every Indian. Similarly, this is an enlightening example of what a girl can achieve if her wings got the much-needed trust and support of the family.

Bravo Manasi! NewsBharati wishes a proud screening of Chafa at Cannes!