Vaghachipani

The idyllic landscape of Vaghachipani conceals a fallen world under the sway of the tiger god. The secular lord of this domain, however, is Prabhu, a ruthless businessman trying to win a local election with the help of his faithful right-hand man, an immigrant known as Malabari. When Basu, a politically savvy, outcast worker, stands up to their intimidation tactics and ill-earned authority, the strict hierarchy and the feudal order of Prabhu’s dominion threatens to come undone. Deepening the inquiry of his acclaimed debut feature Pedro (2021), Natesh Hegde offers a sharp, simmering crime drama exploring the nefarious confluence of faith, caste and political power in Southern India. Set in a hermetic village ruled by fear and tradition, Hegde’s film is a game of tigers and cows, a tale of structured oppression and spontaneous resistance around the figure of the mute maid, Pathi. The spectral camera drifts through this netherworld, registering its rocky terrain, its murky goings-on and its unforgettable faces in rapturous 16mm images. As it unmasks the brutality beneath the serene beauty of the village, the still waters of Tiger's Pond begin to reveal their treacherous depths.