Vikas Khanna's 'The Last Color' making ripples at festival screenings

After indulging people with his delectable recipes and unique cookbooks for decades, Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna is out making ripples with his directorial debut, "The Last Color".

The film that was earlier screened at the 13th Annual Dallas International Film Festival, after its teaser was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival last year, and at the annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, kicked off at Austin-based South Asian film festival Indie Meme Film Festival April 26.

With a bold treatment of a simple story, focusing on a nine-year-old girl and a 70-year-old widow on the fringes of society, the film navigates India's oppressive patriarchal culture in which widows then, weren't allowed to participate in the Hindu festival of Holi.

"The Last Color", starring veteran actor Neena Gupta in the lead, not only struck a chord with the cinema lovers, but also raised pertinent societal issues around women empowerment, girl child education and their right to live with dignity.

Excited about the impact of the movie at festivals, Khanna told PTI, "Austin was divine and Dallas was magical. As a surprise, Neena ji did a video call and I got so emotional".

"Through this movie I wanted to convey a message that art has to be without borders and with imagination and soul. It has to reflect the urge and courage to tell the story, however small it might be," he added.

He drew inspiration for the movie based on real-life experiences and current events.

First, Khanna, said, he recalled seeing Hindu widows in the holy city of Vrindavan not being allowed to engage in the colourful festival of Holi because they were treated as "untouchables".

Later, he saw photos of widows finally participating in Holi with the support of an NGO. Then there was his encounter with a nine-year-old child who performed on a tightrope in India. He first combined these stories into a novel, which he adapted into a screenplay for the film.

"Color is everything," explained Khanna.

"The ripeness, cooking stages, spices, herbs, how things get spoiled and the radiance of produce, it's all about colour."
He recalled telling her, "I think your eyes are so powerful without all the ornaments and your soul shines through them. We will have you in the movie without any makeup."