A documentary on the rocks of the Deccan by filmmaker Uma Magal. This series of digital paintings were inspired by the Cheriyal scroll painting style of Telangana and tells the story of the goddess Renuka-Yellamma and the association of the lore with the rocks of the region. These frames were used to make an animated story within the film.
Digital paintings |19 in number | Other Kohinoors the film | 2019 | Digital
© Other Kohinoors
The story begins with the ominous scene of two beheaded women - Renukamma & Yellamma - lying on the ground amongst the rocks; storm clouds gather.
Renuka was the devoted wife of the wise sage Jamadagni
Every morning, Renuka would walk to the river by their ashram home to fetch water
So deep was her devotion to her husband that the Gods blessed her with a magical power...
A little prayer would result in the appearance of a filled pot of water!
Many peaceful years rolled by...
One day, the mesmerising celestial Ashwini twins appeared in the sky, enchanting Renuka with their beauty.
The delay in her fetching the water that day resulted in some fidelity-related suspicion; her husband Jamadagni was furious and ordered his sons to kill her
Three of his sons refused and were turned to ash! Renuka cried and pleaded. Parushurama, her eldest, stepped up to the task. He will kill his mother.
And so the chase began! Renuka fled, running towards the forest, Parushurama at her heel, axe at the ready!
To hide, Renuka first turned into a tree. Parushurama stuggled to spot her at first...but eventually he succeeds.
The chase continues! This time she ran to the river...
...and hid within the waves! Where could she be now, he wondered in his rage. Eventually, the found her.
This time, Renuka ran towards the rocks! Now her only hope...
This time around Parushurama found it hard to spot her. He expanded his search which gave Renuka some time to escape!
Her frantic search for help and refuge brought her to Yellamma's doorstep - a small hut amidst the rocks. Sobbing and inconsolable, she tells her of the predicament
When Parushurama finally arrives, the women are nowhere to be found. They hid, deep inside Yellamma's home.
Parushurama barges in, drags the women out and beheads them both! The deed is done.
He brings the heads back to the ashram as proof to his father that he has done as he wished.
But the men are filled with remorse. Have they made a mistake? The father asks the son what he would like in return - to bring everyone back to life, he says!
And so, Jamadagni brings them all back, only to switch the heads and bodies of the two women!
