Bhav Ni Bhavai

Bhavni Bhavai (Tale of the Life) is a 1980 Gujarati film directed by Ketan Mehta. Ketan Mehta's debut film is a successful adaptation of folk idioms into cinema. The film is dedicated to Bertolt Brecht, Goscinny and to the inventor of the Bhavai, Asait Thakore, who was a Brahmin outcast and lived among the lower caste communities. His descendants, the Targalas, are the traditional Gujarati performers of the plays he wrote. The Bhavai evolved into one of India's most energetic folk music and dance-dramas. The film is in the form of a story told by a group of Harijans migrating to a city pausing for a night. Documentary footage of India's freedom struggle as well as references to contemporary violent caste riots in Ahmedabad and severe drought in North Gujarat is employed in the film.

The plot involves a king who wants his vav (Stepwell) be filled with water. To get the water, a batrish lakshano (person with 32 qualities) needs to be sacrificed. Unfortunately, that kind of person is among the Mahyavanshi. The Mahyavanshi put up a resistance to give the kid up, but then they have to give up the kid for the sacrifice.

The film won critical acclaim when released, though more for its format than the story.
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