A Bollywood movie Rudaali was screened at Abhirang Auditorium, Bharat Bhavan here on Monday. The movie was organised under the series of Chhavi, a centre for classical cinema, as a part of the Rajasthan Mahotsav 2015. The story is an adaptation of a short story written by a noted Bengali writer Mahasweta Devi and was directed by a female director Kalpana lajmi. The movie starring Dimple Kapdia, Rakhee Gulzar, Amjad Khan and Raj Babbar was released in 1993, having the running time of 128 minutes.
The movie title Rudaali is a reference to a custom in certain areas of Rajasthan where women of a lower caste are hired as professional mourners upon the death of upper-caste males. These women are referred to as a ‘rudaali’, which means female weepers. Kapadia plays the character as a lead role named Shanichari. The film is set in Rajasthan. Shinchari has a bad fortune as she losses her father at childhood, married an alcoholic who leaves her with a mentally disabled child.
Throughout Shanichari’s lifetime of misfortune, she has never cried. This creates great difficulty once she is called to become a rudaali until Bhinkni, an experienced mourner, enters her life. The new entry in Shinchari’s life and new events formed rest of the story. Dimple Kapadia won the National Film Award for the film. The viewers enjoyed the movie whole heartedly, as the acting of old stars enthralled them once again on the big screen.
