Actor Kalki Koechlin-starrer Ruhani & Dolma, written, directed and produced by Chandni Varma, is set to have its world premiere at the 21st Tasveer Film Festival and Market in Seattle, where it will be screened as part of the festival's Moonless Ghamelas programme.
The film explores the intersection of science, spirituality, love and human existence through the story of a quantum physicist whose professional pursuits and personal experiences lead her to question the boundaries of reality.
The Tasveer Film Festival is known for showcasing diverse narratives from South Asia and its diaspora, providing a platform for filmmakers exploring unconventional subjects and contemporary social and cultural themes.
๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
Ruhani & Dolma follows Dr Ruhani Rolani, a celebrated quantum physicist on the verge of proving the controversial theory of parallel universes.
However, at a decisive moment in her career, her professional ambitions and personal world begin to unravel, forcing her to reconsider the scientific principles she has devoted her life to understanding.
As she confronts uncertainty, Ruhani begins questioning not only her understanding of the universe but also her beliefs about identity, love and existence.
The narrative examines the tension between scientific proof and personal faith, suggesting that rational inquiry and intuition may offer different ways of approaching the same fundamental questions.
๐๐ฎ๐น๐ธ๐ถ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐บ'๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐
Koechlin said the film's exploration of parallel universes immediately caught her attention when Varma first approached her with the story.
"'Ruhani and Dolma' is a film about what happens when ego is replaced by curiosity, the delicate balance between proof and faith, between knowledge and intuition, between new discoveries and ancient practices," the Made in Heaven actor said in a statement.
"It's also a film about love, and the non-linear way in which we can fall back into feeling deeply, without warning, and with no regard for the passage of time," she added.
The actor said the story's combination of scientific inquiry and emotional exploration was central to its appeal, bringing together questions about the physical universe and the complexities of human relationships.
๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ
Varma described the film's selection for the Tasveer Film Festival as particularly meaningful because of the platform it provides for South Asian cinema.
"Having 'Ruhani & Dolma' premiere at Tasveer, a festival that has created such a unique space for South Asian filmmakers and stories, is tremendously special to me, particularly because it gives the film an opportunity to meet a global audience," she said.
The filmmaker said the project emerged from her longstanding interest in the connections between scientific understanding and spiritual traditions.
"This is a film that comes from a very personal curiosity about the unseeming similarities between science and spirituality and the questions that continue to fascinate us about the universe, existence, and what may lie beyond what we can see," Varma added.
๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Actor Namit Das, who also features in the film, praised Varma's sensitivity as a writer and director, describing their collaboration as a deeply personal creative experience.
"I mean, this story could have only come from her. I'm not saying that it is her personal story, but at some level, she has lived it, and that's what made me feel so connected to her writing," Das said.
"Being directed by her felt like being an instrument through which she could express her words. I'm so happy when I get to collaborate with artists like her โ artists who bring such honesty, sensitivity and lived experience to their work," he added.
The world premiere at Tasveer will mark the film's introduction to international audiences, bringing Varma's exploration of parallel universes, spirituality and human relationships to a festival dedicated to South Asian storytelling.