For a language that is considered to be the oldest, there is still scope for a first
Sanskrit is considered the oldest language in the world, yet it appears to be in decline. In a diverse country like India, with 22 official languages and over 19,500, Sanskrit has been confined to the classrooms of a few particular universities where it is still taught.
Not to be forgotten, the corporate world in India, with foreign clients, prefers English as the medium of communication. Therefore, India now stands as the country with the second-highest number of English speakers, despite English being an alien language that reached India through its colonizers.
However, on Sanskrit Day, we hope to inspire some people to start learning Sanskrit, and watching movies in the language is one way to get up to speed. This Sanskrit Day, here are some Sanskrit movies you can watch even if that means keeping the subtitles on.
(Credit – Priyamanasam Facebook)
Directed by Vinoo Mankara, Priyamanasam depicts the 17th-century kathakali play Nalacharitham written by Unnayi Variyar. Starring Rajesh Hebbar and Prateeksha Kashi, the film won the National Award in the Sanskrit films category for 2015.
(Credit- h6.googleusercontent)
Ishti claims to be the first Sanskrit film in the country that deals with a social theme. Starring Nedumudi Venu and Athira Patel, the film’s plot revolves around finding oneself and the concept of yaga. Directed by G. Prabhu, the film opened the feature section of the Indian Panorama section at the 47th edition of IFFI (International Film Festival of India).
(Credit- i.ytimg)
Sanskrit films have done a commendable job in reviving old plays and stories. Sakuntalam is no different, as it is an adaptation of Kalidasa's work Abhijnana Shakuntalam. While mainstream Bollywood focuses on adapting works by foreign writers, poets, and novelists, Sanskrit filmmakers are sticking to their Indian roots, bringing the works of Indian poets and writers to the big screen.
Putting a Kannada folklore on the big screen, Punyakoti is India’s first animated film in Sanskrit about a cow that always speaks the truth. Set during the Vedic period on the banks of the Kaveri River, veteran actor Revathi lent her voice in the film for free. Even legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja did not charge a fee for the film’s track.
(Credit- The Hindu)
In a Business Standard report published this year, Ravishankar V, head at Center of Excellence, HR Services and Learning BPO at Infosys BPO and the writer and director of Punyakoti, shed light on the importance of Sanskrit, stating, “There are such profound truths to be found when one reads Sanskrit. And there is no better way to acquaint children with the ecological disasters we are faced with than to do it through animals speaking in Sanskrit,” as quoted by Business Standard.
Sanskrit films have a long way to go, but if the youth begin to watch Sanskrit movies or start reading books, it is bound to gain traction through word of mouth.
