THE THIRST-QUENCHING CINEMA LIST

Water, a source of life to all living forms. The Central Nervous System of planet earth. The main constituent of rivers, oceans, lakes and essential to survival. Our life revolves around water and we don’t even notice it till we are thirsty and all we need is a glass of water.But how thirst quenching is water when it comes in the form of entertainment? Has it proved to be resourceful to the Indian cinema too? Has it given life to a whole different genre, water themed movies? Maybe, maybe not!

Check out these films to find out on your own, if these movies are as thirst quenching as their theme!

1. Water (2005)

Set in the backdrop of the holy river Ganges, in the city of Varanasi. Water (movie) examines the plight of a group of widows. Forced into poverty and a life of forced suffering in India. The movie will hit you in the right place and give you a taste of the orthodox Indian values and traditions used as a weapon to subjugate women.

Watch this movie and let the irony of Indian patriarchy stare you – on one hand the holy river of India personified as a woman, praised like a goddess and on the other hand, the oppressed widows suffering in the temples of Varanasi bound by meaningless traditions.

2. Jal (2013)

The film talks about water scarcity leading to dark times. With the backdrop of water scarcity, the films tells a complex and intriguing tale of love, enmity, relationships and deceit and how times of survival can bring out the darker side of humans. Totally worth watching if experimental cinema is your therapy.

3. Kaun Kitney Paani Mein (2015)

The film is a comical take on the scarcity of water. It shows that how hierarchy, caste system and power equation changes in India, when the most vital resource to life forms vanishes.

To enjoy this brilliant piece of cinema, I would recommend to watch it without spoilers.

4. Well Done Abba (2009)

Created by the patriarch of parallel cinema in India, Shyam Benegal’s “ Well done Abba!” is a political satire Hindi film. The film is based on three short stories with “water shortage” as its central theme. The movie is critically acclaimed and is created like a gentle symphony, never over the top, nor less but appropriately a hard hitting satire. Watch the movie and let Shyam Benegal’s gentle symphony unfold and tell you the tale in its own way.

5. Parched (2015)

In the dry lands of Rajasthan, four women navigate their way through personal and cultural difficulties, to find their own identity. As the title suggests, the parched background of Rajasthan’s deserts is a reflection on the parched emotional and sexual desires of these women living in rural India.

6. Kadvi Hawa /Dark Wind (2017)

An art film based on climate change will open your eyes to the bitter truth of the consequences society may face due to it. The film, even though developed in fiction, is a reality check on what ignorance can lead to, if the society doesn’t take any actions towards saving the earth from the changing environment.

A serious take on a very serious environmental issue. Watch this movie if you don’t want to be in ignorance anymore.

7. Raincoat (2004)

Last, but not the least, this film is a personal favourite of mine. The whole film is based on a rainy day, when its pouring ceaselessly, the colours are blue and grey and the atmosphere wears a sultry, worn out look leaving a calming effect. A totally thirst quenching movie, told poetically and uncompromisingly, this beautiful drama film will leave a footprint on your mind for a long long time.

We all have a favourite beverage, a special ingredient that transforms the taste of water into what we want. It maybe coffee, tea or a fruity flavour. The same way, these water themed movies have their unique ingredients too. Watch these movies to find out which flavour of water you like best!