The Cloud Door

The Cloud Door offers a glimpse into the classical erotic literature of India where desires seem to burn you and the resulting smoke consumes everything. The ever present parrot offers expert advice on sensuality, travels through the air, looms like a cloud and brings in with him lovers of his own manifestation, desires and passions. The freedom might seem like an intrusion or an expression of joy or a mere act to instill Eros in the minds of the religious. The clouds where the bird travels in not his end but a door to the invisible and even what we see, the symbolism, is misleading from the wretched Brahmin to the laughing fish. Mani Kaul has always fascinated me with his visuals; the geometry of his frames, symmetry in shots, the color palette, the way he depicts spaces as something not confined in the structures which exist around it and the lyrical feel in which words flow beside the images and you are left gasping while you try to absorb all details presented.

A little parrot who chatters incessantly is the star performer in this short film. It's a knowing little bird especially in the aspects of love. It can work a spell on lovers' hearts (just like Cupid can ) and can give advice on intimate acts such as foreplay. I thought it was an exquisitely mischievous bird in a beautiful palace setting as the sitars moaned and groaned their rather melancholy music.

Sadness reigned when the little bird flew off over the mountains beyond the clouds and was imprisoned in a cage by a bird catcher. But a young man Ratnasen set him free with the promise that the bird would lead him to Kurangi a beautiful princess residing in the palace.

The lesser characters are no more that a part of the moving scenery giving the cinemaphotographer ample opportunities for filming beautiful underwater scenes of naked girls searching for a string of pools dropped into the palace pool.

The sari costumes are no more than an artistic drape half-covering naked bodies. They are very sexy and so easily cast aside. There is constant reference to burning desire.

It's a refreshing mystical little tale and I suspect just a fragment of an age-old legend. It certainly has that feel about it. And I feel there are certain omissions. I think the title refers to the passing clouds which render what lies beyond invisible and out of reach. As for the final scene with a laughing fish on a dinner platter, I am still trying to find a reasonable explanation. Perhaps it is best left unsolved. After all this is a fairy tale where birds and animals seem to play an equally important role as human beings.

Lovely in all departments. Artistic and well composed. Fabulous direction and acting. Great use of perspective and light.

Mani Kaul at his best again. Lovely Rajasthani art and architecture.

Interesting story. Beautiful medieval India/Bharat. The location of Neemrana fort and Aravalli hills is a perfect setting.

Lovely in all departments. Artistic and well composed. Fabulous direction and acting. Great use of perspective and light.

Lovely in all departments. Artistic and well composed. Fabulous direction and acting. Great use of perspective and light.

Interesting story. Beautiful medieval India/Bharat.

Mani Kaul at his best again.

I watched this film in some foreign language, so I can't understand the dialogs. But, Yet I understood the film quite well. The Heroine Miss. Anu Agarwal is very beautiful and sexy in this film. I have seen her other films, But none compare to this film. She has acted really very good. Her skin complexion is bit dark. But call it a "Black Beauty".

The Story is short and simple. It's about the parrot and the princess. Earlier I thought that it was just another steamy hot movie with some sex scenes. But, When I watched it I was really shocked on seeing the locations and the script is very good. The music is traditional Classical Indian Music. The palace shown is a beauty. I don't know what to say. A really nice watch.

I have given on 8 out of 10 because the film is very short i.e. Less then 30 Mins.

But surely a worth watch it and NSFW.

The only reason I watched this movie was because Mani Kaul was associated with it. Acclaimed in the critics circles, I wanted to have a taste of his body of work. "The Cloud Door" is a technically sound product. High on stunning visuals, sound department and beautiful locales but sadly the premise is empty. Due credit is given to Bhasa & Jayasi on which "The Cloud Door" is based upon but it crystal evident that Mani Kaul has failed to translate it on the screen.

Anu Agarwal:: She was riding high on the success of mega-block buster Aashiqui, wonder what made her sign the dotted line for this movie.

Should you dare to watch it, there is nothing much to lose - the running time is 29-minutes.