I love telling stories - be it through photography or filmmaking. In 2014, with a sense of adventure and a craving to explore remote tribal places in my country, I first visited erstwhile Adilabad to make a documentary film on one of Asia’s most ancient tribe – the Raj Gonds. My small team and I trekked to some of the most isolated places to document their cultures, ancient traditions and artistic heritage. And it was incredulous to see that their way of living has mostly remained unchanged in hundreds of years and untouched by the changes of the world around them.
It was pure serendipity that this was around the time of Diwali, the famous Indian festival of lights. And I stumbled upon this spectacular, centuries-old custom Gussadi. Witnessing the Gussadis performing the dance of the God, for the first time, its mythic history and biting satire completely fascinated me. Their rhythmic and robust movements with the accompaniment of stirring music, was not only an exquisite sight for the eyes but also a moving experience for my soul. It was then that I decided that this story needed to be told. My journey had started then, and I had been blessed to be joined by likeminded and amazing people in making this dream of mine come true. It is a privilege to photograph and record the people, their ceremonies, their traditions and culture and the nature they live in. And six years of hard work and exhaustive research has culminated into the documentary film ‘Gussadi – Celebration of Being God’.
About the Director...
Jennifer Alphonse is a Hyderabad based International Award winning Writer, Independent Filmmaker and Producer. Her work spans a wide range of subjects, styles and techniques in documentaries, short films, commercials, music videos and more.
An MBA graduate who did her Film Appreciation Course in India's prestigious Film School FTII, Pune, Jennifer is drawn to stories that are familiarly different. She believes that the visual medium is the most influential and pursues telling visual stories in any format. For her it’s the best way to put ideas in to the world today.
Jennifer’s first Short fiction film was influenced both by her love for the documentary medium and her involvement with what the society has termed as less-privileged. Kachra is a story about two rag picker boys from Hyderabad whose lives revolve around garbage. The film went on to win her 3 prestigious Golden Nandi State Awards for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Child Actor along with several other International Awards.
Her second short Strangersss inspired by an Indian cab driver who saved a foreigner, was selected at the Cannes Short Film Corner. It went on to win more than 14 international awards in various categories.
Jennifer’s first full length documentary, The Take Over covers the story digital medium that took over Indian Cinema featuring conversations with best of Indian filmmakers and technicians. The film won the Royal Reel Award at Canada International Film Festival, 2016 apart from featuring at the Cannes Festival in short film corner segment. It went on to win more than 12 International awards in various categories.
Her years of documentation of ancient traditions, customs and artistic heritage of various Tribes from the state of Telangana resulted in a documentary featurette Nagoba Jathar. Apart from being screened at various International Film Festivals across the globe, the film also won three prestigious awards at Quetzalcoatl Indigenous International Film Festival, Mexico. Its now showing on Docybay and Epicon OTT platforms. Her recent Documentary film is Gussadi, working for this documentary, Jennifer also collected hundreds of photographs, her another passion. The images are now part of a first of its kind tribal based book in India, called Gussadi – The Celebration of Being God.
Jennifer is constantly intrigued by stories and the possibilities that entail them. She has a childlike amazement towards everything about Cinema and the magical world behind it. She hopes she will create a world of make believe that appears as real as it can be.
