Khayal Gatha(1989)
Khayal Gatha is a 1989 Indian experimental film in Hindi, written and directed by Kumar Shahani. The cast includes Rajat Kapoor, Mangal Dhillon, and Mita Vasisht. The film traces the history of the Khayal genre of Indian classical singing through a series of abstract stories and re-enactments. It also explores the relationship between Khayal music and Indian classical dance. The film won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Rotterdam Film Festival and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie. It was produced by Bombay Cinematograph and presented by the Madhya Pradesh Film Development Corporation.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1989
- Director
- Kumar Shahani
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Rating
- 4.1/10
Storyline
A young music student listens to legends about the birth and evolution of Khayal, a form of Indian classical singing. As storytellers share tales from different centuries, the student finds himself drawn into the re-enactments. He must piece together the fragmented history to understand the soul of the music.
“The saga of a living tradition”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was shot on a very low budget, using mostly natural light and real locations.
- It was funded partly by India's National Film Development Corporation, which supports artistic cinema.
- Kumar Shahani spent years researching classical music history before writing the script.
- The movie blends documentary-style interviews with dramatic reenactments of historical moments.
- It features real classical musicians like vocalist Shruti Sadolikar performing in the film.
- The film had a limited release and was screened mainly at film festivals and art-house theaters.
- Shahani used long, slow takes to mirror the meditative quality of khayal music itself.