Movies: Secret of a Mountain Serpent (2025) by Nidhi Saxena: A Lyrical Tale of Forbidden Desire and Ancient Myth
- dailyentertainment95
- Aug 31
- 6 min read
The Hidden World of Desire and Myth in the Himalayas: Secret of a Mountain Serpent (2025), is a poetic Indian drama directed by Nidhi Saxena. The film is set in a remote Himalayan town in the 1990s during the Kargil War, where the absence of men creates a hushed, waiting atmosphere. The story follows Barkha, a schoolteacher whose husband is serving at the border. She finds herself drawn to a mysterious newcomer named Manik, whose arrival disrupts the fragile balance of the community. As Barkha's feelings grow, a local myth of a mountain serpent, waiting for a long-lost love, begins to blur with her reality. The film is a sensual and haunting exploration of female desire, duty, and the tension between love and longing. It is a co-production between India, Italy, and Sri Lanka, and is notably executive produced by Bollywood stars Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal through their banner, Pushing Buttons Studios.
Why to watch this movie & A Visually and Emotionally Transporting Experience:
A Poetic and Lyrical Vision: The film stands out for its unique cinematic language, which uses silence, sound design, and stunning visuals to convey complex emotions and themes. It is more of an atmospheric mood piece than a traditional narrative.
Powerful and Nuanced Performances: The film stars acclaimed actors like Adil Hussain and Trimala Adhikari, who have been praised for their subtle yet powerful portrayals.
Festival Acclaim: The film was selected for the prestigious Venice International Film Festival's Biennale College Cinema program, where it received both funding and a world premiere, solidifying its status as an art-house film to watch.
Where to watch: https://www.mymovies.it/one/movie/18445-secret-of-a-mountain-serpent/ (available till 2nd of September)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37535266/
What is the Trend followed? & The Art of Lyrical Storytelling: The film follows the trend of lyrical, meditative cinema that prioritizes mood, symbolism, and a sensory experience over a conventional plot.
Myth as a Narrative Device: The film uses local folklore and myths to explore deep emotional truths, reflecting a growing trend in global cinema to weave traditional tales into contemporary stories.
Focus on the Unsaid: It belongs to a style of filmmaking that thrives on subtext, using silence and stillness to convey the characters' inner worlds, reflecting a move away from exposition-heavy storytelling.
The Female Gaze: The film's core is an intimate exploration of female desire and autonomy, aligning with a significant trend in international filmmaking to tell stories from a woman's perspective.
Director's Vision & Weaving Mythology and Inner Worlds: Nidhi Saxena, a filmmaker with a background in painting and sculpture, wanted to create a film that delves into the desires that women silently carry. She aimed to create a world where myth and reality blur, and where desire itself becomes a mythic force.
Desire as a Mythic Force: She states that the film is an exploration of the quiet rebellion of desire, asking the question: "Can you belong to someone, and still belong to yourself?"
Authenticity over Dialogue: The director chose to film with long takes and use sound design to build an immersive atmosphere, preferring a more "sensory experience" to dialogue-heavy scenes.
In-Sync with the Actors: The director and lead actor Adil Hussain worked together to create a "spiritual, almost mystical" on-screen presence, which was so electric that the crew held their breath during key scenes.
Themes & Duty, Desire, and the Serpent Within:
Love and Longing: The central theme revolves around the profound longing of women for their absent husbands and the unexpected reawakening of desire brought on by a new presence.
Myth vs. Reality: The film explores the blurring line between a centuries-old local legend and Barkha's personal emotional journey. The serpent myth serves as a powerful metaphor for repressed desires and the forbidden.
The Weight of Silence: The film is set in a town where the absence of men creates a powerful silence, and this silence becomes a character in itself, filled with unsaid feelings and unspoken longings.
Feminine Solitude and Rebellion: It's a commentary on the inner lives of women who are often defined by their relationships to men. The film shows their quiet rebellion against societal norms and their quest for personal freedom.
Key success factors & The Fusion of Art-house Sensibility and Mainstream Support:
High-Profile Producers: The involvement of Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's production company, Pushing Buttons Studios, provides the film with both artistic backing and a significant platform, helping it reach a wider audience.
Venice Film Festival Selection: Being selected for the prestigious Biennale College Cinema program at the Venice Film Festival is a major success factor. It signifies the film's artistic merit and guarantees international exposure.
Unique Narrative and Style: The film's distinct poetic and meditative style sets it apart from more conventional Indian cinema, attracting critics and audiences who appreciate innovative storytelling.
Strong Lead Cast: The presence of established actors like Adil Hussain and Trimala Adhikari, known for their work in independent cinema, lends credibility and acting prowess to the project.
Awards & Nominations & A Strong Start on the Festival Circuit: The film was chosen as a Finalist Project by the Biennale College Cinema in 2024-25, which provided funding and a world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The project also received the Asian Cinema Fund (Post-Production) and the Biennale College Cinema Grant, making Nidhi Saxena the first Indian woman director to receive both. It was also a contender for the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen 2025, where it received a Jury Special Mention.
Critics Reception & A "Must-See" for Film Aficionados:
Screen Daily: The review from this site describes the film as a "lyrical exploration of female desire" and a "long Hindi-language audio-visual poem." It praises the film's use of silences and absences to tell its story and calls it an "evocative, ethereal mood piece" that will "reward patient audiences."
Outlook India: This outlet's review calls the film a "stunning sophomore" that "frees womanhood through mystical reverie." It highlights how the film "builds a beautiful, humming tension in tranquility" and that "myth and reality conjoin."
Overall Summary: Critics have been highly positive, praising the film for its artistic merit and its unique approach to storytelling. The consensus is that it is a beautifully crafted, slow-burning film that uses powerful symbolism to explore complex emotions, making it a must-see for fans of art-house cinema.
Reviews & A Human Story Wrapped in Myth:
Outlook India: A review mentions that after the premiere, director Nidhi Saxena said she received a "heartwarming response from the audience" and that "a lot of people felt it was their own story." Actor Adil Hussain also shared that he was "taken in by the strength of the poetic Visuals and Sounds," calling it "an anti-war and pro- 'freedom to love and desire' film."
Overall Summary: Reviews from the festival circuit highlight the film's ability to resonate with audiences on a deeply personal level. The blend of a human story with mythical elements is seen as one of the film's greatest strengths, making it a "rewarding" experience for viewers.
What Movie Trend film is following & The New Poetic Indian Cinema: The film follows the trend of a new wave of Indian independent cinema that is moving away from commercial tropes and focusing on a more poetic and artistic form of storytelling. This trend, exemplified by Nidhi Saxena's work, uses cinematic language and subtle symbolism to explore inner worlds and personal narratives.
What Big Social Trend is following & De-stigmatizing Female Desire: Secret of a Mountain Serpent is part of a growing social trend in media to portray and de-stigmatize female desire. By centering the narrative on a woman's emotional and sexual awakening, the film challenges traditional norms and gives voice to a part of the female experience that is often silenced or judged in society.
Final Verdict & A Cinematic Meditation: Secret of a Mountain Serpent is a mesmerizing and profound film that showcases Nidhi Saxena as a unique and important voice in contemporary cinema. It is not a film that provides easy answers but rather invites the audience to immerse themselves in a world of unspoken emotions and mythic symbolism. The film's beautiful cinematography, sound design, and powerful performances make it a memorable and thought-provoking experience. It is a highly recommended watch for anyone seeking a film that is both a work of art and a deeply human story.
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