Mamatha Bhukya,
Urmila Dammannagari,
Karan Singh,
Ramachandriah Marikanti,
Umila Ramachandriah
... see more 
With the haunting adolescent drama Vanaja, Indian writer-director Rajnesh Domalpalli rewrites the oft-told tale of a young girl's journey into womanhood, by filtering its parameters through an indigen... read more
DVD Release Date: March 28, 2008
Stats: 99 reviews
Many Bollywood films are obsessed with material dreams, often depicting how a lower caste/class girl can find romance and fortune within the security of the lighter-skinned wealthy castes. This superb production undoes such a stereotype. Material ambitions can only prove devastat... read more
A heartrending story plot that centralizes on a young fifteen year old girl who dreams of becoming a dancer someday. In order to provide, and pay her father's debt, Vanaja works in the home of Rama Devi. It is there that she helps with the household chores, and takes dancing le... read more
Primarily a sad movie, based on dancing and the dreams of a poor girl who ends up being forced to grow up, but I see how this relate to many countries where the poverty is so inmense, this actually is a fact of life!
I think the dancing made this movie great!!!!
a little rough around the edges, , but I think domalpalli is a director I will look for in the future.
This is heart-wrenching Indian drama in the vein of Deepa Mehta's recent Water, again dealing with a young girl trying to find her self-worth in the midst of a repressive caste system and physical abuse. Full Review
It's not easy to make a very sad movie that doesn't make you want to jump out a window when it's over. Vanaja pulls this off. Full Review
Vanaja, a beautiful and heart-touching film from India, represents a miracle of casting. Every role, including the challenging central role of a low-caste 14-year-old girl, is cast perfectly and playe... Full Review
Rajnesh Domalpalli made this poignant 2006 drama as his thesis film for a master's degree at Columbia University, yet its technique and development of character and theme are far more accomplished tha... Full Review
Vanaja, a film exploring the tensions of the caste system in contemporary rural India, boasts a compelling story on-screen and off. Full Review
By the time Vanaja and her girlfriend ride off into the sunset on the back of an elephant, viewers will be bored stiff by this long, tedious film. Full Review
Vanaja is a coming-of-age tale that is engrossing, if slightly overlong, and absolutely timeless.
More or less superfluous, Bhukya's impeccable dancing skills at least offer a reprieve from the story's amateur show of social inquiry. Full Review
A film that touches the heartstrings as it brings home the cruel class distinctions that poison Indian society. Full Review
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Explore | Movies | Actors & Actresses | Photos | Theaters | News | Lists | Quizzes | Best Movies | Blog | Reviews | Mobile
More Info | Copyright, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service | Ad Choices | About Us | Jobs | Advertise | Twitter | Flixster SuperReviewers
Copyright © 2010 Flixster, All Rights Reserved Trademark Use Guidelines
