Underplayed Gems

Ishti (2016)

Ishti poster
Directed by
Dr. G. Prabha
Genre
drama film
Country
India
Runtime
1h 48m
Elsewhere
IMDb
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How it feels

This Sanskrit film follows a search for identity and meaning. It centers on a main character who explores self-discovery through social themes.

contemplativephilosophicalserenethought-provokingsubtleintimategroundedmeditative

What happens

Ishti (or Iṣti:; English: Search for the Self) is a 2016 Sanskrit-language film, directed by Dr. G. Prabha, starring thespian Nedumudi Venu and newcomer Athira Patel in lead roles. "Ishti" literally means search for self, yaga, etc. The film is the first in Sanskrit with a social theme. Ishti is written, scripted, produced and directed by Dr. G. Prabha, a Sanskrit professor and a doctorate holder in Sanskrit. Ishti is not the country’s first Sanskrit film. But it certainly is the first one to deal with a social theme. G. Prabha, a doctorate holder in Sanskrit, was the former Head of the Department, Oriental Languages at Loyola College, Chennai. He had earlier made two non-feature films, Agnaye, a documentary film on Athirathram yagna, and Akkitham, on the life of poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri. Ishti was the opening film, of the feature section of the Indian Panorama section at the 47th edition of IFFI (International Film Festival of India). Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri and V Madhusoodhanan Nair penned lyrics for Ishti and the camera was by Eldho P. Issac. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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