The story of “An talamh faoi gheasa – The Enchanted Land”:
While hunting in a forest, King Sudyumna accidentally entered a sacred grove dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. This grove had a unique property: any man who entered would be transformed into a woman. As soon as Sudyumna crossed the boundary, he was transformed into a woman and renamed Ila.
Sudyumna prayed to Shiva to restore his original form. Shiva granted the boon but with a condition: Sudyumna would alternate between being a man and a woman every moon wax and wane cycle. Thus, Sudyumna lived as both a man and a woman as the synodic period progressed.
Lost and bewildered by the sudden change, Ila ventured into the forest and met Budha, the god of the planet Mercury. Budha, captivated by Ila, embarked on a journey of love and marriage. Budha accepts Ila’s dual identity.
About the project:
An talamh faoi gheasa/ The Enchanted Land is a unique short film project that intertwines an ancient Indian mythological story with the beauty of the Irish language. The narrative explores themes of transformation, gender identity, migration, displacement, and the eternal quest for balance, offering a rich cultural and linguistic experience.
The tale of King Sudyumna and Ila provides profound poetic and psychological insights into themes such as transformation, gender identity, migration, displacement, and the pursuit of equilibrium. The narrative can be seen as an exploration of gender identity and fluidity. Sudyumna/Ila’s alternating gender underscores the non-binary aspect of gender, indicating that identity is not static but can encompass various manifestations.
Sudyumna’s transformation into Ila and the subsequent timely alternation are powerful metaphors for the psychological experience of displacement and the need for adaptation. This transformation mirrors the challenges faced by migrants and displaced individuals, highlighting the film’s relevance to contemporary issues of identity and self-perception.
The film is brought to life by the captivating performances of Subhashini Goda and Pradeep Mahadeshwar. Subhashini, a talented Bharatanatyam dancer, infuses her unique artistry into the project. Pradeep, a visual artist and performer, enhances the narrative with his visually exciting getups. The film was shot at three distinct historical locations with colonial significance in and around Dublin. It captures the transition from spring to summer, subtly reflecting the tension between migrant body, identity, sexuality, and the unfamiliarity of the Irish landscape to the migrant body.
The final edited version of the film has the story translated into the Irish language and sung in the style of Irish folk singing.
The project was funded by The Arts Council’s visual art agility award, 2023
THE
CREATIVE
TEAM
Credits
Performers - Subhashini Goda and Pradeep Mahadeshwar
Writer, Director, and Executive Producer – Pradeep Mahadeshwar
Production Company – Cassette Vision
Producer – Adam Rael
Director of Photography – Daniel Bolaños Meade
Editor – Luke Faulkner
Irish Translator – Conall Ó Duibhir
Make-Up – Aisling Doyle Original
Music by Derek Byrne and Molly Donnery
Colour grade - Dave Hughes, Windmill Lane Pictures
1st AC – Jack Quinn
2nd ACs – Jarlath McKernan and Matthew de Barra
Associate Producer – Jack Quinn
Production Assistant – Tom Wallace
Special thanks to: School of Philosophy and Economic Science, Janice Hough, IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art / Áras Nua-Ealaíne na hÉireann), IMMA Residency and Artist Programmes, Museum Of Everyone, Siobhan Conroy, John Byrne, Aaron Carroll and Sorcha Cullen
Funded by The Arts Council
