This project was 'inspired' by the 1966 film PERSONA directed by Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman - about a nurse, her ward - a former actress who for some mysterious reasons refuses to speak - both occupying the doctor's beachfront house with the goal of the environment somehow having a therapeutic effect on the actress' condition.
The original (taken out of print/distribution to rework) was done using a (now unavailable) 'shader' in Daz Studio that produces a unique effect in black and white that is so close to the look and 'feel' of the black and white film work done by cameraman Sven Nyquist on the Bergman film.
The original (taken out of print/distribution to rework) was done using a (now unavailable) 'shader' in Daz Studio that produces a unique effect in black and white that is so close to the look and 'feel' of the black and white film work done by cameraman Sven Nyquist on the Bergman film.
Many years after publishing the original black and white version - in 2014, I was approached by a journalist - a Ms. D. Susan of the Vizag Edition of the Deccan Chronicle - for an interview. She was curious of the reasons I chose the city of Vizag as a setting for my work. Unfortunately - the black and white version I had produced had really no discernible landmarks in the visuals to link it to the city of Vizag - and hence I felt rather embarrassed when the article was finally published with images of my work from another project set in Ocean City, Maryland (USA).
From the revised work-in-progress - to be completed prior to and officially launched at a future Hyderabad ComicCon held in HITEC City bi-annually in both English and Telugu languages :
Regarding the show FAMILY AFFAIR in which Ms.Kathy Garver portrays the character of Cissy - when my family immigrated to The States in 1969 - the sitcom was already in its 4rth season - but despite my age (I was around 5) - I found Kathy and the show to be the epitome of American charm - and she became my "heart throb" - this despite the fact I was still in Kindergarten !
I approached Kathy at some point after hearing she was working on a memoir : Surviving Cissy: My Family Affair of Life in Hollywood - to review my work on this graphic novel / book VIZAG BLUE (which for reasons unknown to me - was also requested to be included in collections of the USA Library of Congress).
To my surprise and utter delight, she agreed !
Here's Kathy :
I approached Kathy at some point after hearing she was working on a memoir : Surviving Cissy: My Family Affair of Life in Hollywood - to review my work on this graphic novel / book VIZAG BLUE (which for reasons unknown to me - was also requested to be included in collections of the USA Library of Congress).
To my surprise and utter delight, she agreed !
Here's Kathy :
Kathy's book is available on Amazon and brick and mortar bookstores worldwide - in addition to an Audible and Kindle version.
Vizag Blue Review
By
Kathy Garver
August 19, 2015
Anil Rao takes the reader on a fascinating journey of a college student’s first shock of rejection and loneliness to the realization that there might be hope for her to love or find Prem. Using Prem as a duality between the physical and the imaginative, Rao’s graphic novella passes emotionally and engagingly between reality and metaphysics. Foreshadowing and tension keep the reader involved as new twists and turns are revealed through meaningful words and strong pictures. The cinematic like switch from scene to scene keeps one involved and jolts the imagination to fill in the sub text.
The plight of Kalpana, the student who falls mute after a series of loud giggles in class and then does not return to school, is taken on by a young nurse, assigned to help Kalpana out of her almost comatose state. When progress is not being made toward Kalpana’s cure, Doctor Reena sends the nurse and her charge to the doctor’s beach house in Vizag. Nurse Usha along with her fiancé and sometime visitor Anil attempts to move Kalpana’s stillness. These supporting characters add to the complexity of the novella and provide fodder for Kalpana’s ultimate breakthrough.
The art work is composed of simple but expressive backgrounds, which bring into focus the strongly defined lines of the characters and the changing emotions shown in their faces and body language. The delineation of Kalpana as stiff as compared to the relaxed, softened and rounded shoulders of the other figures conveys the tension Kalpana is experiencing. The change of scenery from doctor’s office to seaside resort helps move the story giving it room to breathe and reflects the change Kalpana begins to feel.
Kalpana definitely needs to take a deep breath, suffering as she is while attempting to find a true love and quell loneliness. Will she find Prem? The end of the novella cleverly sets up a mystical sequel . . . or two?
I heartily recommend Vizag Blue. The appeal is universal – who does not want to find love? With the novella’s simplicity of art work and depth of thought, the book is able to strongly announce its theme. The combination makes for an entertaining and thought-provoking read which will stay with a reader long after the last page is finished.
Vizag Blue
by
Anil CS Rao
By
Kathy Garver
August 19, 2015
Anil Rao takes the reader on a fascinating journey of a college student’s first shock of rejection and loneliness to the realization that there might be hope for her to love or find Prem. Using Prem as a duality between the physical and the imaginative, Rao’s graphic novella passes emotionally and engagingly between reality and metaphysics. Foreshadowing and tension keep the reader involved as new twists and turns are revealed through meaningful words and strong pictures. The cinematic like switch from scene to scene keeps one involved and jolts the imagination to fill in the sub text.
The plight of Kalpana, the student who falls mute after a series of loud giggles in class and then does not return to school, is taken on by a young nurse, assigned to help Kalpana out of her almost comatose state. When progress is not being made toward Kalpana’s cure, Doctor Reena sends the nurse and her charge to the doctor’s beach house in Vizag. Nurse Usha along with her fiancé and sometime visitor Anil attempts to move Kalpana’s stillness. These supporting characters add to the complexity of the novella and provide fodder for Kalpana’s ultimate breakthrough.
The art work is composed of simple but expressive backgrounds, which bring into focus the strongly defined lines of the characters and the changing emotions shown in their faces and body language. The delineation of Kalpana as stiff as compared to the relaxed, softened and rounded shoulders of the other figures conveys the tension Kalpana is experiencing. The change of scenery from doctor’s office to seaside resort helps move the story giving it room to breathe and reflects the change Kalpana begins to feel.
Kalpana definitely needs to take a deep breath, suffering as she is while attempting to find a true love and quell loneliness. Will she find Prem? The end of the novella cleverly sets up a mystical sequel . . . or two?
I heartily recommend Vizag Blue. The appeal is universal – who does not want to find love? With the novella’s simplicity of art work and depth of thought, the book is able to strongly announce its theme. The combination makes for an entertaining and thought-provoking read which will stay with a reader long after the last page is finished.
Vizag Blue
by
Anil CS Rao
Available through the following borrowing borrowing libraries in The States :
https://www.worldcat.org/title/758647008
https://www.loc.gov/search/?all=true&q=anil++vizag