‘The Wari is like a river that flows relentlessly’

“ A number of films have been made on the Palkhi,but according to me,making a film on Warkaris involves understanding their history,lifestyle,the society they come from and so on. So rather than focusing on their life during the 21-day Wari,we have also been exploring their lives in the villages they come from in this film,” she added.

For Shah who comes from Bhopal,not understanding the language of the Warkaris was never a challenge. “Surprisingly,language has never been a problem during the times of the shoot. This lady called Gangubai met me in Alandi the first time I went there. We clicked without a single word being spoken. To my surprise,I met her again when I went there the next year. Considering the fact that there are lakhs of devotees in Alandi on the day of the wari,meeting a person again is a magic. In my film,I am looking for such magic which I find not in characters but in the facts associated with Wari. When everyone has been claiming that our traditions are dying,I find that the Wari is like a river that has been flowing relentlessly,” said Shah who started conceptualising the film 10 years ago during her stay in the city.

Coming from an alien country,the Wari is like a ‘phenomenon’ for King. “It is like continuation of history for me. What makes the Wari a perfect occasion for a documentary is its vibrant nature. Their attire,art,their interface with the urban life when they pass through Pune,the way the city changes to welcome them are all just perfect moments for me. It is an exciting phenomenon for me and what makes our film different from others is that we are portraying their lives with reference to our urban lives,” said King,who is doing a PhD on Indian documentary filmmakers.

Expected to be ready by March next year,the film is Shah’s experiment to explore people with reference to time and space.

“This is my second five- yearly project and personally a journey to understand my people though my lens,” Shah added.