Swaha (film)

Swaha (English: In the Name of Fire) is a 2024 Magahi feature film directed by Abhilash Sharma.^[1] The film tells tells a dark and emotional story of a woman struggling to feed her newborn while living in a hut in a deserted space.^[2] It got official selections at 26th Shanghai International Film Festival 2024, International Film Festival of Kerala 2024, Lucca Film Festival, ImagineIndia International Film Festival 2024, 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival and Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival 2025.^[3][4][5][6]

Swaha: In the Name of Fire
Poster
Directed by	Abhilash Sharma
Written by	Shilpee Bhardwaj Abhilash Sharma
Produced by	Vikash Sharma
Starring	Chandra Shekhar Dutta Satya Ranjan Sonalli Sharmisstha
Cinematography	Devendra Golatkar
Edited by	Suresh Pai Abhilash Sharma Visual effects supervisor: Balakrishna P. Subaiah
Music by	Mohandas V.P. (Sound design) Sound recordist: Neethu Mohandas Re-recording mixer: Souvik Phukan
Production company	Prajna Film
Release date	June 2024 (2024-06) (China)
Running time	99 minutes
Country	India
Language	Magahi

Plot

Set in the rural east Indian state of Bihar, the film follows a family whose members were quite unlucky to be born into the Dalit caste. The determined mother, abandoned by her husband, ventures out on a quest for a meager living. She fights societal challenges to feed her child. She confronts the chilling belief that her husband's return demands a sacrifice - her most cherished essence, entangled with mystical whispers.^[7]

Cast

• Chandra Shekhar Dutta as Nehura, Crematory worker
• Satya Ranjan as Phekan
• Sonalli Sharmisstha as Rukhia
• Buloo Kumar as Choudhri
• Kunal Kumar as Bablu
• Ravi Kumar
• Sarbind Kumar as Crematorium Manager
• Sriparna Chakrobothy as Woman on Train

Release

Swaha had its World Premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024, China in the Asian New Talent Competition section.^[8] It was showcased at the 30th Kolkata International Film Festival on 5 December 2024 in the Unheard India: Rare Language Films section.^[9] The film was screened at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala on 15, 17 and 19 December 2024.^[10][11][12]

Reception

Marko Stojiljković of Asian Movie Pulse reviewed, "Swaha: In the Name of Fire seems like a social, to a point even anthropological study that tries to pose as an artsy fiction film. It is certainly a well crafted, demanding watch, but the question is whether it is also a rewarding one."^[13] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll observed, "A miserabilist air hangs over the film as does a cruel fog. Never is the suggestion that the characters are trapped by circumstances stronger than in Rukhiya's experience. The section of the plot revolving around Rukhiya, although well-intended, is heavy-handed and descends into melodrama."^[14]

Accolades

Festival	Award	Winner's name	Result	Ref.
26th Shanghai International Film Festival 2024: Asian New Talent Competition	Golden Goblet Award for Best Director	Abhilash Sharma	Won	[15]
	Best Actor	Satya Ranjan	Won
	Best Film	Abhilash Sharma	Nominated
	Best Script Writer	Shilpee Bhardwaj & Abhilash Sharma	Nominated
	Best Cinematographer	Devendra Golatkar	Nominated