Saṃsāra

Saṃsāra is a central belief in Dharmic religions. It permeates all forms of life, as a cyclical and ceaseless power dictating a succession of earthly existence.

With Saṃsāra, my aim was to capture the vibrancy of India, its culture, and the elements of the Dharmic religions which encapsulate life in this beautiful nation. The Purusharthas, the main objectives of human life, also became a theme for the film. Gandhi’s words are used as a voiceover to help bring life to some of these ideas.

The film closes with the end of human life in one of India’s Seven Holy Cities; Varanasi. Pilgrims come at the end of their lives to Varanasi, to die in the vicinity of the holy Ganges, as it is believed to be a site that can bring Moksha, liberation from cyclical life, and the ultimate goal of one’s existence. It is believed the sacred waters offer the Ātma, the inner soul, a path to the Brahman - the Ultimate Reality in the universe.

This film is the culmination of three weeks exploring northern India, across Delhi, Bīkāner, Rāisar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Tordi Sāgar, Jaipur, Āgra, and Varanasi, with GAdventures. Having been immersed in India’s vibrancy, and experiencing its wildly chaotic, yet perfectly synchronous culture, the premise for Saṃsāra gradually evolved into the product of this film.

Edited in Premiere Pro and After Effects.

Gear used:

Canon EOS 1DX Mark II
GoPro Hero 5 Black
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Zoom H5
Rode VideoMic Pro
Syrp 82mm Variable ND Filter

The entirety of this film was shot and edited by Kieran Mellor.

Cast: Kieran Mellor

Tags: India, Samsara, Hindu, Rajasthan, travel, canon 1dxii, Kieran Mellor, kieranmellorfilms, Gandhi, videography, travel filmmaking, filmmaking, travel video, staff picks and vimeo staff picks