Upamanyu Bhattacharya’s animated feature film, “Heirloom,” has been making waves at the prestigious Annecy animation festival. Selected for the 22nd Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), this Indian work-in-progress film delves into the complexities of nostalgia and its impact on our lives.
A Story Unraveling a Family Tapestry
In “Heirloom,” Sonal, a teacher, grapples with a hereditary disease that mirrors her late mother’s demise. Her husband, Kirti, inherits a handloom trade and invests in a traditional fabric museum collection. However, Sonal believes the mill should be modernized, leading to conflicts between them. When Kirti’s financial mismanagement and mysterious disappearance occur, their daughter, Mrinalini, forms a bond with her terrace-dwelling grandmother, Baa, unravelling the family’s intricate tapestry. Sonal’s illness compels her to uncover Kirti’s mystery, forcing her to reflect on her connection to the past and the future.
A Journey from Conception to Recognition
“Heirloom” originated as a submission for Annecy’s residency for first-time feature filmmakers in 2021. Subsequently, it was presented at the Cannes film market’s Annecy animation day, Annecy’s own market (MIFA), and Film Bazaar at Goa in 2023. Upamanyu Bhattacharya, a graduate of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India, drew inspiration from the city’s rich textile heritage and his passion for exploring nostalgia and people’s resistance to change. Bhattacharya shared, “Nostalgia and preservation can be good, but they also have a dark side and can be debilitating.” The characters in the film struggle with the allure of happy memories when faced with life’s challenges, prompting them to question their way of living.
Aiming for Global Engagement
“Heirloom” aims to resonate with young adults and adults while offering enjoyable family viewing. The film’s art direction captures the essence of Ahmedabad’s Old City, showcasing India’s diverse textile techniques. Bhattacharya endeavors to introduce viewers worldwide to the country’s crafts heritage through the film’s embroidery and stop-motion animation. Producers Arya A. Menon and Shubham Karna highlight the importance of the project in presenting Indian animation on an international stage, stating, “We hope to release the film to as wide an audience as possible and to make a lasting example of Indian animation to the world.”
Looking Ahead
For Bhattacharya, “Heirloom” is just the beginning. His next project is a mixed-media animated short set in Goa titled “Windowlim.” Meanwhile, Menon and Karna have an exciting lineup, including a feature film with Vir Das, a documentary on the Silkyara Tunnel rescue operation, a feature film with journalist-turned-writer-director Manu Joseph, an animated series titled “Adarsh Family,” and a fiction series called “Doctor Saheb.”
For more information, check out the source link for this article published on F5 Magazine’s website.