Stepping into the world of Anvita Dutt’s Qala (2022) feels like entering a lavish, haunting dream where architecture breathes life into the past. The film’s setting, a meticulously crafted mansion in 1930s India, combines the sleek lines of Art Deco with traditional Indian elements, creating an opulent and oppressive backdrop. The mansion reflects the protagonist’s emotional landscape through rich colors, shadowy lighting, and intricate details, evoking isolation, ambition, and inner conflict. Each room, adorned with geometric patterns, dark wood, and metallic accents, becomes a visual metaphor for the societal and personal struggles that shape the storyline, making Qala a powerful interplay of architecture and human drama.
Setting and Atmosphere
The principal setting of Qala is a sprawling estate that is an ideal example of Art Deco style which became popular in the 1920s and 30s predominantly among the urban elite in India. The stylistic pattern usually consists of sharp angles and geometrical formats along with lavish decorations and it is these very features present in the sets of Qala. Moreover, the artistic effect of the mansion is exquisite in the inner parts made of bezels such as dark wooden floors, winding staircases, intricate designs, and custom-made furniture, and it adds to the somber contemplative atmosphere that the film possesses. On the other hand, design elements such as this also epitomize Qala’s privileged upbringing and the inner turmoil that she faces.
Art Deco Design Elements
Illustrative of the characteristics of Art Deco, the linear designs, metallic touches, and the design of the spaces of Qala with its sharp angles can be seen. In addition to emphasizing the notion of space, high ceilings, bare décor, and reflective materials in the rooms of the house create a lonely and almost frozen feeling in the place that epitomizes the internal conflicts of Qala. Most of the time, this is experienced in the scenes where the relatively large and richly decorated but empty spaces extenuate the loneliness and agitation of Qala very well.
Window grilles, mock mirror frames, and railings all reiterate angular designs that are typical of the Art Deco style and subsequently adorn the house to have an elaborate and sumptuous appeal but foreshadow the character’s confinement to her life and society. Instead, shiny and metallic surfaces are used to introduce a modern element and a coat of elegance which is the opposite of the general mood that is later extended to the plot which is disturbing and in most cases dark.
Integration of Indian Aesthetic Elements
The design aspect of the building is Art Deco style, but Indian design elements are used everywhere to create a unique combination that is typical of that period. To illustrate, the glass settings include Indian fabric print designs and usual motifs plus intricate jali work that fit well with the more Western styles. Thus, the design becomes an architectural figurative language for the mixed-up picture of the Indian society of those days influenced by colonial powers, – so it goes even deeper in the narrative of the film.
The central courtyard is perhaps another important design element, native to this form of architecture that is Indian in origin. This not only helps to root the building in an Indian context, but it is also a principal orienting element in the case of such passages which evoke contemplation and memory. The director also gets to explore the juxtaposition of open spaces with enclosed spaces, which is a common feature in Indian houses, and the themes of restraint and movement inherent in them.
Lighting and Color Palette
The interplay of light and color forms an integral part of the architectural ambiance of Qala. The drama of various settings within the story is also intensified by the use of soft shadows in some areas creating a bit of tension and foreboding in some scenes. The color palette which consists of dark hues such as deep sky blues, dark browns, and slate grays with a few warm tones in between enhances the glamour of that era without losing a sense of sadness. This color scheme is noted in the decor as well as architectural elements, which adds to the emotional intensity of the surroundings.
Qala is an engagement in the pseudo-world of architecture rather than a mere film. The architecture of the film is elaborately crafted to enhance the narrative and take one’s mind to a place with the perfect balance of good and evil. The art of architecture in Qala can be considered a very effective way of driving the narrative because of the Art Deco influences blended with the Indian elements. Qala is a work of commentary on architecture and cinema all at once intertwined with the struggles of the main character, the ethics of that particular period, and the often sinister intersections of wealth and anonymity.
CITATIONS:
https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/how-netflixs-qala-a-period-drama-melds-architecture-and-art-to-bring-a-bygone-era-to-life/
https://scroll.in/reel/1037258/the-art-of-qala-art-nouveau-and-a-lot-of-drama-in-the-darkness
https://authindia.com/the-interiors-of-netflixs-drama-qala-hauls-calcuttas-art-nouveau-from-darkness/
