Rang Mahal

Palace of Colours

Berlinale Shorts 2019

This documentary portrays the Santal people, native to the north of India. It is one of the largest ethnic groups whose origins go back to India’s indigenous population. While written language is a relatively recent development for the Santal, their myths have been passed down orally over thousands of years. Therefore, each story has a different form, a different rhythm, a different colour – like the mountains and hills of the surrounding region. The men work on the mountain and later in the village, which is in the midst of preparations for the annual ritual. It takes years for a tree to grow, bear fruit and provide shade. A view of Creation and its narrative: Like the myth that stretches from Genesis to the building of the first house, the images unfold with tranquil composure and affectionate reverence.

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by Prantik Basu
with Balika Hembram, Sanjay Kumar Tudu India 2018 Santali 27’ Colour Documentary form

With

Balika Hembram (Narrator)
Sanjay Kumar Tudu (Narrator)

Crew

Written and Directed by	Prantik Basu
Cinematography	Prantik Basu
Editing	Prantik Basu
Sound Design	Ananda Gupta
Producer	Rajiv Mehrotra

World sales

Public Service Broadcasting Trust

http://psbt.org/ http://psbt.org/

Produced by

Public Service Broadcasting Trust

http://psbt.org/ http://psbt.org/

Prantik Basu

Born in Kolkata, India in 1986, after taking a degree in English literature at the University of Calcutta, he studied film direction at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. His short film Sakhisona won a Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and screened at festivals worldwide. Further works, including Wind Castle and Makara, have also screened at festivals. His debut feature film, Dengue, which he developed with support from the Hubert Bals Fund, is currently in pre-production. His work focuses on gender politics and the relationship between nature and humans.

Filmography (short films)

2007 Short Life 2008 Late Vizolie Solizuo 2009 D2K2 2011 1, 2 2012 Read, Eat, Sleep 2013 Makara 2014 Wind Castle 2016 Sakhisona 2018 Rang Mahal

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019