With Saṃsāra, the film maker’s aim was to capture the vibrancy of India, its culture, and the elements of the Dharmic religions which encapsulate life in this beautiful nation. The Purusharthas, the main objectives of human life, also became a theme for the film. Gandhi’s words are used as a voiceover to help bring life to some of these ideas.
Saṃsāra from Kieran Mellor on Vimeo.
The film closes with the end of human life in one of India’s Seven Holy Cities; Varanasi. Pilgrims come at the end of their lives to Varanasi, to die in the vicinity of the holy Ganges, as it is believed to be a site that can bring Moksha, liberation from cyclical life, and the ultimate goal of one’s existence. It is believed the sacred waters offer the Ātma, the inner soul, a path to the Brahman – the Ultimate Reality in the universe.
This film is the culmination of three weeks exploring northern India, across Delhi, Bīkāner, Rāisar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Tordi Sāgar, Jaipur, Āgra, and Varanasi, with GAdventures. Having been immersed in India’s vibrancy, and experiencing its wildly chaotic, yet perfectly synchronous culture, the premise for Saṃsāra gradually evolved into the product of this film.
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