The Ritual

Ghatashradha (The Ritual) is Kannada language movie, directed by Legendary Girish Kasaravalli. Its based on Jnanapeeth award winner U.R.Ananthamurthy's short story.

The film was set in 1920s and depicts a rural village in Karnataka, where a young widow, the daughter of a village scholar who runs a local school, finds herself pregnant after being seduced by a teacher. While the girl remains unaware of the happenings within and around her, she is excommunicated by her father, who performs her funeral rites (Ghatashraddha), while she is still alive. A little boy through whose eyes the entire story is perceived goes back home, after the school is closed down following the incident.

This movie also shows a clear picture of caste division amongst Brahmins and untouchables in quite a few scenes.

The best part of the movie is, before the climax scene where the Shudra slave says to the main priest "He had saved his daughter (who got pregnant being a widow) even from the snakes, but could not save her from a Brahmin" The entire credit goes to Girish Kasaravalli for beautiful narration, and perfect direction. Meena(the girl) and Ajit(kid) acted brilliantly. Watch it for soul touching story and superb performance. Truly deserved an Oscar.

I am going with 9/10 for Girish Kasaravalli's Ghatashraddha.