Ever since the National Awards have been announced the mainstream movies is curious about a Gujarati film called Hellaro that won Best Feature Film and is the opening film at 50th International Film Festival India this year. In addition, 13 actresses who have acted in the film have received Special Jury Award at National Film Awards. This is the first Gujarati film to win both, Golden Lotus and Silver Lotus awards.
Based on Gujarat’s folk dance form, Garba, Hellaro focuses on female gaze in a predominated male society. Shot in the mid-summer heat of Gujarat in the desert of Kutch more than 450 costumes were prepared for the villagers residing there to make it look authentic and film completed within 35 days. Directed by Abhishek Shah who has been active on stage for 17 years as a writer/ director/casting director and actor and written by Abhishek Shah and Prateek Gupta. Saumya Joshi who is a well-known poet-writer-playwright and writer of the Hindi film 102 Not Out and is also famous in the Gujarati theatre and poetry world, is the lyricist and dialogue writer of the film The music of the film is composed by Mehul Surti and choreographed by Samir and Arsh Tanna of Dholi taaro dhol/Lahu muh lag gaya and Nagada sang dhol fame.
Bhawana Somaaya/ contact@bhawanasomaaya.com