SYNOPSIS
A once famous, obliviously religious Hindu Yakshagana artist loses the highly coveted role of a Hindu deity to a Catholic priest, forcing him to confront his alter ego and grapple with his dogmatic faith in a surreal and enigmatic world.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
The visuals of “SURA” is deeply interconnected with my upbringing in Mangalore, India. The story unfolds in a fictitious village situated along the Konkan coasts of Southern India while embodying a prominent trait of Mangalore: a region fraught with a hostile socio-political environment and marred by religious intolerance. The characters in “SURA” are defined solely by their religious affiliations and perceive others through a narrow religious lens. The environmental sounds in this world also cater to these religious undercurrents. The protagonist, Shekhara, represents the everyman from my hometown, and through his transformative journey, we explore the impact that dogmatic religious obsession can have on an artist and their craft. The story is centered around Yakshagana, a cherished local art form. Artforms like Yakshagana, Biblical plays, Theyyam, Bhootha Kola, and Ashura often obscure the presence of the actors/performers themselves in favor of the divine beings they portray. I sought to peel back the elaborate facade of religion and illuminate the struggles, dilemmas, and obsessions that plague the artist from within. By focusing on the artist’s journey, I aim to celebrate their raw humanity and offer an exploration of the interplay between art, devotion, and the universal themes of mortality that bind us all.