Song of Scorpions - Movie 2019

Song of Scorpions 2019 – Song of Scorpions is a Swiss-Indian drama film made in the Hindi Language. The movie is directed by the Geneva-based Indian director Anup Singh, who is known for his critically acclaimed film “Quissa” (2013). The movie stars veteran actor Irrfan Khan who plays the character of a camel trader called Adam, and famous Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani who plays the character of a tribal woman called Nooran. The movie is based on the legend of the scorpion singers in Rajasthan. An ancient myth in Jaisalmer states that the sting of the Jaisalmer scorpion can kill the victim in less than 24 hours and the only cure for the sting is the song sung by a scorpion singer. The song is said to counter the poison of the scorpion. This myth serves as the metaphor for the movie where the plot revolves around the tribal woman Nooran, who just like her grandmother wants to be a scorpion singer, and her journey of vengeance and dealing with a series of unfortunate events throughout her life.

The character of Zubeida, the grandmother of the protagonist, is played by veteran Bollywood actress Waheeda Rahman.  The filming of the movie began in December 2015 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The movie had its world premiere at the 70th Locarno International film festival where it was screened in Piazza Grande screening venue in Locarno, Switzerland in 2017. The movie received rave reviews from the critics and the jury alike. This movie marks the second collaboration between director Anup Singh and actor Irrfan Khan. They previously worked on the movie “Qissa” which was screened at the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 38th Annual Toronto Film Festival. There the movie received critical acclaim and won the Netpac Award for World or International Film. “Song of Scorpions” is also the second collaboration between director Anup Singh and actress Tillotama Shome, who previously worked with the director in the movie “Qissa.” “Song of Scorpions” was released across selected theatres in India in July 2019.