Village Vibe
‘Cinema can capture a way of life that may soon get lost’
Cinema has the power to show all facets of society, says Stenzin Tankong, whose Last Days of Summer is being screened at Chitrashaala Short Film Festival. He tells us how his films portray Ladakh, and more.
Taking a deep dive into climate issues through cinema
It wasn’t easy for filmmaker Priya Thuvassery to make Coral Woman, but she gained some novel experiences while making it. She tells us more about the movie, which will be screened at the upcoming Chitrashaala short film festival.
‘I want to make movies about the northeast’
Riah Taipodia, the director of the film Khiew Ranei which will be screened at Village Square’s Chitrashaala Short Film Festival, talks to us about her movie and her dream of telling more stories from the northeast.
Here’s a film that takes masks of Majuli to the people
In an exclusive tete-e-tete, Mask Art of Majuli director Utpal Borpujari tells us more about the short film, set in the world's largest river island in Assam, which will be screened at Village Square’s Chitrashaala short film festival.
Chitrashaala – Student winners of short film competition announced!
The jury’s verdict is in! Judges from the Film Critics Guild have hand-picked the winners of Village Square’s competition for college students. Check out the winning movies that will be screened at the Chitrashaala short film festival.
India’s hinterland hopefuls at the Paris Olympics
As all eyes in the world turn towards Paris for the Olympic Games 2024 starting today, we bring to you six Indian athletes with humble beginnings who are representing the country at the international event.
This is why gucchi mushrooms are the world’s priciest
Morel mushrooms, also known as gucchi, may be the globe’s most expensive mushroom, but now climate change is impacting its availability. Village Square does a visual essay on what goes into sourcing the prized delicacy.
All you need to know about Village Square’s Chitrashaala short film festival
Screening of selected short films on rural India, conversations with filmmakers, interactions with acclaimed directors, actors and critics – you can catch all this and more at Chitrashaala on August 3. Here’s what the day will bring.
Elderly puppeteers of Odisha keep kandhei nacha alive
Rabi Narayan Jena, Dukhabandhu Jena and Umakanta Jena are fighting to revive the ancient art of kandhei nacha (rod puppetry), despite modern entertainment threatening its existence in Odisha.
Nothing ‘aam’ about these mango varieties
Move over Safeda, Langda and Chausa – the more popular mango varieties of India. This Mango Day, we do a round-up of some lesser-known regional favourites for you to savour.
Chitrashaala – Village Square’s short film fest trains the lens on rural India
Watch powerful films like Giddh (The Scavanger) and Last Days of Summer, interact with film personalities Muzaffar Ali, Adil Hussain, Faisal Malik and others, and learn more about rural India at Chitrashaala, Village Square’s short film festival.
Echoes of Portugal ring out in tiny Maharashtra village
Home to 250 Catholic families, the coastal village of Korlai in Maharashtra stands out for its preservation of a rare creole dialect called Kristi, a mix of Portuguese, Marathi and Konkani.
Bahabanga festival: A cultural identity of the Santhals
The Santhals’ practice of welcoming a new season through rituals, songs and dances during the Bahabanga festival showcases their culture, and demonstrates how their lives revolve around nature and agricultural seasons.
World’s highest hamlet – What it’s like to live at 4,500 metres
Komic village in Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh stands as a unique blend of tradition and adaptation, where modern challenges meet ancient ways of life, and where the serenity of the Himalayas shapes every aspect of existence.
Odisha man’s home museum boasts 3,200 rare coins and more
Meet Mitesh Ranjan Sahu, a 38-year-old government employee in Odisha, who is an avid collector of coins, currency notes, matchbox labels, postage stamps, and medals, earning him the nickname ‘Currency King’.
Add this waterfall-side Himachali dhaba to your Manali itinerary
You can enjoy Himachali delicacies like lingdi sabzi, sidu and kadhi at Sagar Thakur dhaba, which is run by a ‘Pahadi didi’ next to a natural waterfall far from the maddening crowd of Manali.
This rural sports academy is shaping champions in Punjab
Amol Academy, founded by Sant Gurmeet Singh in 2017 at Khosa village in Punjab’s Moga district, has transformed the lives of aspiring athletes by providing modern training facilities and promoting hard work through sports.
A visual journey through the saffron town of Kashmir
Welcome to Pampore, the saffron town of Kashmir, where nature's splendour and the region’s cultural heritage converge to create captivating sights and experiences throughout the year.
When it rains, it pours festivals in July
From spiritual processions to harvest festivals, and everything in between, here are six vibrant rural celebrations across India that you can visit this month.
Traditional Odia sweet magaji ladoo awarded GI tag
Magaji is a beloved sweet of Odisha’s Dhenkanal district. Its makers’ dedication to quality and tradition has earned this remarkable preparation a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, ensuring its authenticity and preservation for future generations.