Nidhi Saxena's Cinematic Journey: Exploring Themes of Desire and Identity
Nidhi Saxena's Film Premiere in Venice
During the premiere of her film Secret Of A Mountain Serpent in Venice earlier this year, Nidhi Saxena made a memorable entrance on the red carpet, holding an apple.
This vibrant fruit plays a significant role in her upcoming debut film Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman, set to release in 2024, and is prominently featured in Secret Of A Mountain Serpent. While pitching for funding at the Venice Film Festival the previous year, Saxena took an apple with her and took a bite in front of the selectors.
Symbolism of Apples and Snakes
In Secret Of A Mountain Serpent, snakes also hold symbolic importance, although showcasing a live snake on the Venice red carpet would have been quite a challenge.
Saxena expressed her desire to explore the metaphors and cultural legends surrounding apples and snakes. She aimed for the apple to symbolize love rather than temptation, suggesting that it brings contentment and joy.
Cultural Inspirations and Themes
Saxena's interest in fruit and snakes is partly influenced by the Christian creation myth. The film, which premiered in India at the Dharamshala International Film Festival, incorporates a local legend about a snake-infested river that warns women to remain faithful while their husbands are away. The apples scattered throughout the film serve as a metaphor for forbidden desires, both tempting and liberating.
Set against the backdrop of the Kargil War in 1999, the Hindi-language film follows Barkha (Trimala Adhikari), who feels a disconnect from her husband (Pushpendra Singh) upon his return, instead finding herself drawn to the mysterious engineer Manik (Adil Hussain).
Artistic Style and Narrative Techniques
Saxena's second film continues her tradition of using abstract imagery, extended takes, and a poetic narrative style that addresses women's unique issues. Both films incorporate elements of magic realism.
In Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman, the past of an elderly woman intertwines with her present, while in Secret Of A Mountain Serpent, talking shoes convey the unspoken desires of women separated from their partners, and birds act as messengers between the absent men and the longing women.
Casting and Character Development
The film utilized over 200 kilograms of apples, and Saxena elaborated on its themes, stating, "Women often face barriers to love and sexual pleasure, even within marriage. I wanted to delve into repressed desires and the secretive subculture of lovers, expressed through symbols and metaphors."
Trimala Adhikari was chosen for the role of Barkha not only for her talent but also because she hails from the region where the story unfolds. Saxena praised Adhikari for her subtle acting and ability to convey emotions through silence.
Saxena's Background and Influences
Saxena met Adhikari during a visit to the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, where she studied screenwriting in her thirties. Born and raised in Jaipur, she has a diverse background in painting and sculpture, alongside experience in non-profit organizations, all while nurturing her passion for cinema.
Reflecting on her childhood, Saxena shared, "Whenever I read stories, I would visualize and reconstruct them in my mind. I felt that if I didn't make a film, I would perish."
Funding and Production Challenges
To finance Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman, Saxena sold her apartment in Jaipur and relied on support from family and friends. Notably, Sri Lankan filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara, an FTII alumnus, became a producer for both Sad Letters and Secret Of A Mountain Serpent.
Saxena noted the rapid success of her projects, which premiered at Busan and Venice, highlighting the challenges independent filmmakers face in securing funding, festival exposure, and distribution.
Future Projects and Aspirations
While attending the Dharamshala festival, Saxena is already working on her third project, which she promises will be more accessible than her previous films. She is also set to write for Jayasundara's upcoming movie set in Kochi.
In addition to filmmaking, Saxena has been writing books, including a biography of Fatma Begum, the first Indian woman to write and direct films in the 1920s. She aims to adapt Who was Fatma Begum? for the screen, expressing her desire to create an experimental film about this pioneering woman.
Saxena concluded, "I am weary of watching women portrayed by men. Indian cinema often features poorly written female characters, and it's crucial for women to start representing themselves. While the label 'woman filmmaker' can be frustrating, we must embrace our identity and fight for our narratives."