Kala Shreen

Films

Film Series “ICON” - Series is conceptualized, scripted, directed and produced by Dr.Kala Shreen.

ICON – Memoirs of a Mastercraftsman, a 2022 production of this series has received several international awards in various categories including best documentary and best female director and producer.

Synopsis: The series intends to trace the trajectory of images and artefacts of India and their producers and consumers.

Film titled “Sari and Zari” (Tamil with English subtitles – under production) - The film is conceptualized, scripted, directed and produced by Dr.Kala Shreen.

Film teaser screening:

June 2, 2018, BP Theatre, The British Museum at the International Conference of Royal Anthropological Institute

Synopsis: The musical film captures the visual aesthetics of the Hindu ceremonial sari which traverses the realms of tradition and fashion, religion and art, historic and contemporary, personal and socio-cultural.

Documentary Film Series “Social Network @ Village.in” (English – 107 mins – comprising 18 short films): The film was directed by Dr.Kala Shreen and co-produced with Dpt. Of Anthropology, University College London UK.

Film screening:

Feb 9, 2016 – Mar 24, 2016, at Visual Exposition - “Why We Post”, Wilkins Building, South Cloisters Gallery, University College London, UK

Synopsis: The film series portrays the role of social media, its uses, consequences and impact in the everyday lives of people with a geographical focus on Tamilnadu in South India. The films capture the social media usage among varied people including, but not limited to, IT workers, homemakers and students thereby presenting a particularly complex and multilayered environment for the reception of social media.

Song “Sari Story: Motion and Emotion” (Tamil with English subtitles – 6 mins): The song was conceptualized, penned and produced by Dr.Kala Shreen.

Presented at:

May 3, 2017, at FSS Salle 1007, Audio-Visual Media Panel, International Conference of Canada Anthropology Society at University of Ottawa, Cana

Synopsis: The song traces the interwoven life of the ceremonial sari of Tamilnadu and a Tamil woman during various socio-cultural occasions in her life such as the rites of passage, religious rituals, festivals, traditional art performances et cetera.

Traditional bamboo flutes and a hundred years old sarangi (string) instrument were used during the production of this musical piece.

Kala recording instumentalist playing 100 yr old Sarangi

Kala recording state awardee flautist

Ethnoarchaeological Film “Return of the Rituals” – Tamil/English (28 mins): The film was conceptualized, scripted, directed and co-produced by Dr.Kala Shreen in 2009.

Film screening:

April 2010, at Harvard University, USA
May 2011, at Cape Breton University, Canada

Synopsis: The film recreates the archaic ceremonies of a South Indian community that have not been in practice since the early twentieth century, with only sporadic performances among few contemporary families. The film is a visual documentation of rituals that are fast becoming obsolete. It colorfully captures unique cultural elements of the celebrations such as antique objects, ritual implements, traditional dress, sacred floor designs, gift-giving practices and so on. The film comprises interviews with select elderly member of the community and consists of indigenous songs of the community.

Documentary Film “Little Traditions of Tamil Nadu” (42 mins). The film was conceptualized, created, scripted and produced by Dr.Kala Shreen (2005)

Film screenings:

April 2005, at Rice University and University of Houston, USA
May 2006, at Queen’s University, Belfast, U.K.
June 2006, at Alliance Française, Chennai, India

Synopsis: The film was a stirring exploration of the religious festivals and celebrations of non-Brahminical Hinduism and the sidewalk shrines of the subaltern.

From 2012 to 2013, Dr. Kala Shreen generated over 100 photographs for the book “Celebrating Crafts” published by the World Crafts Council. The photographs portray crafts and artisans from across the globe including Rwanda, Ireland, Mexico, Korea and more, adding enormous vibrancy to the visual aesthetics of the aforementioned book.

Curator of Photographic Exhibition “Viewing Hinduism” – at Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast, U.K., May 2007