Film Premiere:
The Owl-Eyed Guardian and the Banyan Dream
Saturday | October 19
Film screening and discussion panel with Auroville director Alessandra Silver and special guest, New York filmmaker and artist Jenn Ruff
AVI USA is thrilled to present the premiere of The Owl-Eyed Guardian and the Banyan Dream, a film by Alessandra Silver and InLight Productions. The innovative film tells the story of Andhayee, a Tamil woman who lived near the Auroville Banyan tree and foresaw the creation of Auroville. Andhayee’s daughter, Jayalakshmi, appears as Andhayee.
Director Alessandra Silver was present for the screening and joined by Jenn Ruff, filmmaker, artist and professor of film studies at New York University. Alessandra spoke more about the origins of the film, her innovative creative process, her use of animation and archival footage to recreate historical locations, and answered questions from the audiences. Make sure to watch until the end to hear more.
Watch the Owl-Eyed Guardian and the Banyan Dream Trailer:
Alessandra Silver
With 15+ years of experience in participatory film making, Alessandra possesses an exceptional blend of creative vision and storytelling process. Alessandra’s work spans several continents, having produced films in Europe, Africa, and India.
InLight Productions is Alessandra’s film production group.
Jenn Ruff
Jenn is a New York based video artist and filmmaker who began collaging to escape electricity and never looked back.
Jenn is an Asst. Arts Professor at NYU in the Graduate Film Program and has participated in numerous award winning films. She has exhibited videos and collages in galleries in NY, LA, Tokyo and London.
Jenn has also spent time in Auroville.
Watch the Animated Intro to the Film:
ABOUT THE FILM
In the remote village of Kottakarai, an enigmatic woman named Andhayee defies societal norms, living a solitary life under a remote banyan tree on a barren land. After her husband’s death, Andhayee finds solace under the ancient tree, nurturing a profound spiritual connection.
Andhayee foretells a time when people from all corners of the world will gather beneath her beloved tree—a prophecy that becomes reality in 1967 when three men—Roger, Gilbert, and Ramanathan— sent by their spiritual leader, The Mother, embark on a journey to locate the destined center of a new international township. Guided by an old map and intuition, they discover Andhayee living precisely at the spot designated by The Mother. This moment marks the birth of Auroville, a utopian community envisioned as a place of human unity.
As construction of the iconic Matrimandir begins, Andhayee becomes an integral part of the emerging community. Her presence is both nurturing and spiritual—cooking for the workers, offering guidance, and embodying a link between the old world and the new dream. Her life unfolds in quiet resilience, even as she faces personal losses and the destruction of her hut.
“The Owl-Eyed Guardian and the Banyan Dream” follows Andhayee’s journey, painting a vivid portrait of the early years of Auroville through her eyes and the memories of those who knew her. Her story, woven with the traditions and cultures of the surrounding villages, reveals the unspoken struggles and aspirations of ordinary people with extraordinary visions. It is a tale of connection, spirituality, and hope—a testament to the immortal dream of Auroville, where roots run deep, and new worlds are co-created.
Andhayee offers a message to the “people of the future,” inspiring generations to come with her unwavering faith in a higher reality and a united world.
Andhayee in the 1970’s
Behind the scenes with Alessandra, Jayalakshmi and crew.
