Vanaja by Rajnesh Domalpalli

Set in rural South India, a place where social barriers are built stronger than fort walls, Vanaja explores the chasm that divides classes as a young girl struggles to come of age.

Vanaja is the 14 year old daughter of a poor, low caste fisherman, who dreams of becoming a great dancer one day. She goes to work in the house of the local landlady, Rama Devi in the hope of learning Kuchipudi dance while earning her keep. Soon her vivacious ways and spunk catch the landlady's eye, and she rises up the ranks and eventually secures Devi's mentorship.

Vanaja excels in dance, and seems to be on a steadily ascending path when Shekhar (Devi's son) - handsome, muscular and rather insecure returns from the US to run for political elections.

Chemistry is ignited between Shekhar and Vanaja and flirtation and innuendo bloom. But the situation turns suddenly ugly when Vanaja unfortuately humiliates him in front of his mother.
Matters escalate, spiraling downwards as she is pitched into a tale of class, family and animus from which there is only one escape.

Language - Telugu with English Subtitles

Zone 4

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