Mumbai, March 3: Renowned writer-director and chef Vikas Khanna recently shared on Instagram that his film ‘The Last Color’ began its journey on Holi in 2011. On that vibrant festival day, he observed widows dressed in white, sitting silently, which deeply moved him.
Khanna described how the world around him was awash in pink, yellow, and blue hues, yet these women were devoid of any color. This poignant scene struck a chord within him, leading him to write a short story that eventually evolved into a novel and then the film ‘The Last Color.’
He noted that the film surpassed his initial expectations. The first look was unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by screenings at nearly 100 international film festivals. During a special screening at the United Nations Headquarters, the film received a standing ovation. He was later invited to advocate for better employment and respect for widows at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., becoming a global ambassador for widows alongside Global Widows.
The film was declared eligible for the 2020 Academy Awards and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. However, for Khanna, the greatest achievement was not the accolades but the realization of how powerful it is to connect anyone with a festival. He emphasized, “Connecting someone to color, joy, and celebration is the most important thing. Everyone deserves it.”
This belief later inspired his initiative ‘Bungalow,’ where no celebration is deemed complete until everyone has a seat at the table. Although he may be physically in Dubai today, his spirit remains in Vrindavan, where every handful of colored powder symbolizes good wishes for the widows who finally got to wear colors.
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