‘Bodhi’ time travels to 2600 years back, a period dalits were stoned if stepped into a public road and stripped without questions just because of their caste. G Ajayan’s debut venture is not yet another story on the underdog, but a period film that draws heavily from our own ghastly history. “‘Bodhi’ is a film that unravels the staunch severity of caste system, a reality that keeps plaguing our lives even today,” says the director.
Set in the empire of Vijayanagara, ‘Bodhi’ zooms into the life of Matangi, a chandala (untouchable) girl. “Anandan, a Buddhist monk and disciple of Bodhidharma, asks Matangi for some water but she denies it citing her inferior caste. But he insists and drinks water poured by her. Awed by his philosophy of human equality, she follows him,” Ajayan explains the basic story premise. The film is loosely based on two books - The Buddha and His Dhamma by Dr Ambedkar and Chandalika by Rabindranath Tagore.
Ajayan says ‘Bodhi’ is a female-oriented film as it traces the journey of a woman through an untrodden road towards enlightenment. Matangi’s journey is no easy task as she has to brave many a storm. She easily becomes an outlaw and is beaten black and blue by the ruthless upper caste. “Matangi sets off in search of answers regarding her subaltern woes. She reaches Buddha and through him attains the spiritual heights finally transforming herself into Bodhi,” he says. The three main characters Matangi, Ananadan and Prasenajith are played by Pooja, Babu Annoor and Ramesh.
Ajayan says since the film rewinds back to the Buddhist era it involved a lot of research and background check. “The film also tries to present Buddha in a new light. He is a visionary who tried to eradicate savarana hegemony, more than a spiritual leader he is an activist who stood for the rights of the downtrodden.”
Caste is no ancient institution, but a continuing reality even today, says the director. He adds that the inhuman system operates through the dichotomous psyche of people leaving a large section grievously wronged. “In modern India caste is the major hitch that negates the concept of equality,” he says. The film ends with the screen footage of Dr Ambedkar embracing Buddhism with his brood of mahars in 1957. “The film leaves a positive note, a hope that a new social structure will evolve from the preachings of Buddha that promises fairness and peace,” he adds.
Along with being a work of art ‘Bodhi’ is a political intervention that throws a volley of questions at present-day society. “For us releasing the film itself is a matter of survival as subaltern accounts on screen are no more welcome. Today media, especially cinema, is monopolised by certain people and getting space for a film like ‘Bodhi’ is a feat. It comes with a disturbing storyline and lacks any big names in its cast list,” he says.
He adds that the film simply points at certain pattern that has been followed from time immemorial - how some are denied basic human rights and how injustice has became an ordinary social norm. “It’s not an act of rebellion, just a strong reminder,” he says. The film produced by Shiji Mohammed under the banner of N J Golden Pictures will hit the screens on October 17.