Brief synopsis of the film:

अवार-नवार छोरियां (Every Now and Then Girls…) is a hand drawn, hand cut stop motion animation which is an adaptation of the Rajasthani folktale ‘Dohri Joon’, collected by Vijaydan Detha in his 14 volumes of folktales from Rajasthan titled 'Batan Ri Phulwari'. Our screenplay adapts this folktale and locates it in a small town, Sheoganj, Rajasthan (which is my paternal hometown) to retell it in the contemporary time.

The film has three non-human narrators, the Tiddi (locust), Danda Thhor (a succulent plant) and Sarus crane. Each of the narrators tells the story of two girls. These stories revolve around oppressive patriarchal structures; the desire to challenge, change or leave behind these structures; friendships between women and the possibility of new imagined futures.

Taking a cue from the folktale form, the film makes use of non-linear storytelling and magic realism to unfold the three stories which are being told to a group of curious and giggly young girls.

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Credits:

अवार-नवार छोरियां /Every Now and Then Girls...

A hand drawn, hand cut stop motion animation film by Shefalee Jain and Shivi Bhatnagar

(Duration: 20 minutes 51 seconds)

Research, screenplay and animation: Shefalee Jain

Screenplay consultant: Shivi Bhatnagar
Screenplay translation to Marwari: Narendra Jain
Animation assistance: Shivi Bhatnagar

Art and Design: Shefalee Jain

Director of Photography: Shivi Bhatnagar

Art Direction: Shefalee Jain

Editing: Shivi Bhatnagar
Colour Grading: Shivi Bhatnagar

Sound and music:
Concept and direction: Lokesh Khodke
Sound co-direction, additional production, programming and composition : Ayashi Music (Ayan Joe and Srinath S Kumar)

Supported by Mrinalini Mukherjee Creative Arts Grant