After ten years of being disciple he later realizes that he lives more comfortably like his natural male self who feels trapped by custom that causes him many problems. He is beaten up physically, laughed at socially, persecuted publicly or made to suffer by fellow members of society.
The fact is that when he’s on stage or giving blessings, the villagers respect him and appreciate him. But once alone, they mimic him and call him a “zombie.” Meanwhile, it is also worth noting that he cannot engage in productive activities or undertake some roles because the residents think that if any harm befalls him there could be divine retribution against them. Valli wants to leave the village more and more every day because of fear for his life and not inhabiting his authentic self as a Jogta disciple limited by the female identity.
Feeling that this is not really his own life, he wants to leave it all behind with Tara (Varshaa Sunil Ajit), the only person he feels safe with. Both from a sad and abusive past, Tara and Valli find solace in each other as they live through their wretched existence in the village. Her mother eloped from the village because of love affair, taking a lot of money from the local villain. Her mother’s debts have made her poor and her own people are urging her to get married no matter what to save face. Despite being heavily burdened by her mother’s debt, Tara still cherishes everything that belongs to her including the child she plays mother/guardian to.
The film by Manoj Shinde focuses on various issues with Jogtas but also depicts how different problems affect the lives of Indian villagers at large. The story revolves around poverty, violence, freedom and religious identity among others. At its centre is Valli who epitomizes just living ones life as they desire. In characterizing the protagonist, the director comes up with an original story whose fresh viewpoints amalgamated with truthfulness make it possibly one of the best tales about freedom ever told today.
Deva’s brilliant portrayal of Valli allows you to see both his maternal side and his fierce side as he struggles outside the religious limelight. They are excellent together with Varsha Malwadkar who plays alongside him. But that is not to say that each actor was not equally good on their own, it just so happened that they perfectly suited their roles.
Additionally, “Valli” pulls viewers in through its immersive cinematography and intense sound design. Interspersing the voiceovers with real performances by the leads of folk songs, it shows the conflict between rural and traditional Indian cultures. The imagery is primitive yet tender at once, representing Valli’s exterior and interior worlds. It addresses issues such as the conditions of Jogtas who are subjected to continuous hypocritical discrimination from the same people that visit them daily regardless of how much they themselves suffer from social injustice. By being slow and attentive throughout, this movie also follows the main character’s journey revealing village mindsets as well as trials and obligations faced by his neighbors.
Religious trauma and a hard life in the village are the main themes of Valli rather than gender identity. The protagonist carries the weight of responsibilities and an identity that is alien to him deep down, which also cause him traumatic consequences. In other words, it is a film about being authentic to oneself and confronting new opportunities with boldness to build a brighter future. Manoj Shinde’s film is an excellent example of real and fearless storytelling that brings out the right mood for each main character’s characterization as well as their stories.
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