Veins Of Grace
Lavanya Lodhi / 3rd AniMela Festival / India / 06:30 / 2025
Veins of Grace is an experimental mixed-media animation that blends the Indian classical art of Kathak with a deeply personal narrative of memory, identity, and return. Told without dialogue—through the evocative sounds of ghungroos, harmonium, and traditional bol (verbal beats)—the film follows a young woman estranged from her cultural roots, drawn back to the rhythms once passed down by her mother, her first guru. As modern life fractures her connection to self and tradition, she seeks refuge on a quiet terrace at sunset, where memories begin to dance through shadow and silence. A sensory meditation on loss and rediscovery, Veins of Grace reflects on how the sacred essence of home and heritage lives on in the body, waiting to be remembered. Through each beat, each chakkar (round), the film becomes a quiet prayer—an act of becoming.
Cast & Crew:
A film by , Lavanya Lodhi ( Written, Directed, animated and Sound Design )
Director’s Bio
I’m Lavanya Lodhi, a storyteller, designer, and dancer dedicated to blending cultural heritage with modern visual strategy. A 2025 NID graduate, I currently work as a Visual Designer at District by Zomato, where I focus on creating work that balances strategic thinking with deep emotional resonance. My creative identity is rooted in my upbringing in a military family and my training in classical Kathak. These influences allow me to translate the rhythms of movement into animation and film, exploring themes of memory and belonging. A defining moment in my journey was my film, Veins of Grace, being named a semifinalist at the 2025 Student Academy Awards—the only selection from India that year. Whether I am designing for a brand or choreographing a visual narrative, my goal is to bridge the gap between tradition and contemporary storytelling. I believe art should do more than just look good; it should create a lasting connection.
