Deval Soni in Gaumukhi (Cow) | Photo by Liann Endozo

Presented by Dramatic Jukebox & CinemaClub

Much like his Elephant Song, one of the highlights of my 2024 Toronto Fringe experience, writer and director Kush Shah’s Gaumukhi (Cow) is too dense and considered to fully appreciate upon a single viewing. That relentlessly poetic mode, with its sharp observations, feels ceremonial. I’m drawn to it, yes, though it’s—not intimidating exactly, but—certainly demanding. Every line and gesture, however slight, feels purposeful. Especially since it’s embedded so firmly in a volatile culture not my own, I feel I owe it rigorous attention.

And yet, despite how daunting I make it sound, it’s not an exhausting experience. The craft is alluring. The light, sound, texture and rhythm, even the quality of the air, is transporting. Beauty, even on its own terms, is persuasive. Continue Reading