"Swaha" is a drama-horror set in rural Bihar named after the word 'Swaha', a chant uttered when an offering is cast into sacred fire.
An abstract tale with gothic elements set amongst urban and rural sprawl, the film follows inter-connected stories about poverty, caste discrimination, and sacrifice.
Swaha
IDENTITY DESIGN, MARKETING, ILLUSTRATION
CLIENT + PARTNER
Prajna Films
Abhilash Sharma (Writer, Director, Producer)
In a cruel world, an abandoned mother battles societal odds to feed her child. Haunted by despair and mystical whispers, she faces the chilling belief that her husband's return demands the ultimate sacrifice-her very essence.
In collaboration with director Abhilash Sharma, for the film's premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival, we created a festival premire poster that centered the image of the character Rukhiya who as a new mother from an excluded community must endure a great deal including being branded a witch, and ultimately make an even greater sacrifice.
DRAFTS + SKETCHES
FINAL POSTER DESIGN
As we had done throughout, the final composition visualised the bold decision to depict a woman holding her child while seemingly engulfed in flames.
However, in contrast to how flames are normally depicted as bright and the matter they are burning as dark, we inverted this colour scheme to elevate the central character and visually blur the turmoil in her surroundings.
TRAILER