Village Vibe
The humble coconut is trending now, and how!
Coconuts are more versatile than you think! On this World Coconut Day, we bring to you some innovative uses for the fruit that are gaining popularity and make it a must-have in daily life.
Bringing back the romance in craft at Chitrashaala
Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali discusses challenges of filming crafts with award-winning filmmaker Utpal Borpujari and young filmmaker Riah Taipodia from Meghalaya during a conversation at the Chitrashaala short film festival in August 2024.
These small industries are bringing big changes in villages
There are several small industrial projects that are lighting up the rural economy in unusual ways. This ‘Small Industry Day’, which is observed on August 30 every year, we revisit some of the initiatives featured on Village Square.
Koraput-Rayagada, India’s hidden gem of rail tourism
Scenic beauty, cultural richness and engineering marvels along the Koraput-Rayagada and Kothavalasa-Kirandul rail routes in Odisha make them must-visit destinations for any travel enthusiast.
From Dongargaon to Toronto, Sthal brings rural realism to silver screen
Jayant Somalkar’s debut film Sthal, shot in 22 days in his home village with local non-professional actors, authentically captures the struggles of a young woman from rural Maharashtra fighting for education and independence in a patriarchal society.
I was inspired by the rural youngsters while filming Panchayat: Faisal Malik
Events like Village Square’s Chitrashaala help promote good content, feels actor Faisal Malik. He talked to us about attending the short film festival, filming Panchayat in a village, his humble roots, and what went into playing Prahlad cha.
Shaktiman – How a military truck became an off-road king in Manipur
Shaktiman, a medium-capacity truck that was used by the Indian defence forces from 1959 to 1996 enjoys a new lease of life as a multipurpose off-road truck in the hilly Ukhrul and Kamjong districts of Manipur.
Clicking rural India from a woman’s view
From widows of farmers in Maharashtra who had died by suicide to women drug users in Punjab and the gendered impact of water crisis in Uttarakhand, photographer Deepti Asthana’s work captures rural themes from the women’s perspective.
These two women are singing Punjab’s past into present
Virpal Kaur and Pawandeep Kaur from Khosa Kotla, dedicated to preserving Punjab’s folk music, have collected and documented hundreds of traditional songs to ensure the rhythms of Punjab’s past resonate with future generations.
‘I want to help preserve Uttarakhand culture through my songs’
Girish Jeena, the man behind the viral ‘Gulabi sharara’ song from Uttarakhand, talks to us about his journey, the unexpected fame, and the personal stories behind his popular songs.
These rural spots continue to remind us of India’s freedom struggle
These were the places in rural India where blood, sweat and tears were shed for India’s freedom from colonial rule. On this Independence Day, here’s a look at the current state of those historic locations.
Tharu women revive their craft towards financial freedom
Crafting everyday items from grass was a way of life for the Tharu community of the Terai region till modernisation took its toll on their traditional craft. Now the Tharu women are reviving their craft, earning money in the process.
‘Regional is the new mainstream cinema’
National Award-winning director Manish Saini, whose film Giddh (The Scavenger) was screened at the Chitrashaala Short Film Festival, reflects on the art of short filmmaking, Gujarati cinema's revival, and the challenges facing regional storytellers in the OTT era.
Mother-coach propels Odisha lad to throwball stardom
In a country where cricket and hockey dominate the sports landscape, Odisha athlete Kuldip Samant’s journey offers hope to aspiring throwball players, proving that even the most unlikely dreams can become a reality.
Golden needles, purple tea: Women-led estate shines in Arunachal
Driven by an all-woman team, Donyi Polo Tea Estate in Arunachal Pradesh is pioneering sustainable tea cultivation and artisanal tea production, and breaking auction records.
Have you been on these monsoon treks yet?
With the rain gods having obliged us this monsoon, it’s a good time to pack your walking shoes and take off on a trek to the unexplored corners of the country. Village Square brings you five such lush trails.
A filmmaker’s ode to craft on celluloid
Muzaffar Ali, the director of films such as Gaman, Umrao Jaan and Anjuman tells us why he chose to make 18 short films on Indian craft forms, one of which was screened at Village Square’s Chitrashaala short film festival.
Rural themes resonate with celebs and cinema lovers at Chitrashaala
The inaugural edition of Chitrashaala, Village Square’s short film festival on rural India, saw the coming together of filmmakers, actors, cinema lovers and critics at the Alliance Francaise on August 3. Here’s a round-up for those of you who missed the fest!
Moving mountains with rural-based themes on celluloid
Aravali the Lost Mountains, by Jigar Nagda, captures this conflict between the many facets of development. In a chat with Village Square, the filmmaker talks about his journey and mining in Rajasthan ahead of the screening of the film at the Chitrashaala short-film festival.
Bittu – A fiction film that borrows from real village life
Karishma Dev Dube, the director of Bittu, which was shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film segment at the 93rd Academy Awards, tells us more about the movie ahead of its screening at the Chitrashaala Short Film Festival.