Akram Khan: Homeland - The Making of Desh

Akram Khan: Homeland – The Making of Desh captures the exquisite, evocative process behind the creation of Akram Khan's solo performance "Desh". A British-Bangladeshi dance artist of global renown, Khan is known for his effortless blending of the contemporary and the traditional with an insatiable curiosity for exploring new terrains of movement and expression. This movie gives a bird’s eye view of the different stages of development of 'Desh', revealing the meticulousness that goes into creating a significant performance.

Khan's work dedicates itself to the construction of bridges - between east and west, tradition and innovation, classical and contemporary. His unique physical language, a blend of Indian Kathak and contemporary dance, results in stirring performances that often grapple with personal and cultural identities. ‘Desh’ (meaning homeland in Bengali), is no exception and ranks as one of Khan’s most pertinent creative ventures. Picking up threads of memories, imaginations, and rich cultural heritage, Khan weaves a compelling tapestry that explores notions of home and belonging, identity, and displacement - often striking a universal chord in addressing the diaspora experience.

In Akram Khan: Homeland – The Making of Desh, director Sadik Ahmed takes us behind the scenes, offering potential audiences and dance aficionados unparalleled access into Khan’s creative process. Ahmed pairs it with an engaging narrative that documents the conception and completion of 'Desh'. Here, you can see Khan, the artist, the choreographer, working with his team, negotiating aspirations and fears, and shaping his dance vocabulary.

Being an intimate peek into the making of a dance performance, the movie puts a spotlight on the strenuous physical demands, the intense rehearsals, and the creative labor that goes into the offering, emphasizing Khan’s unwavering commitment and physical prowess. Yet, it also underlines the collaborative nature of such artistic ventures, drawing attention to composers, technicians, designers, rehearsal directors, and other significant contributors who become integral to the endeavor.

As a narrative, the film embraces several intriguing tracks. One part of the story is about the artist grappling with his mixed British-Bangladeshi identity. The inherent duality prompts Khan to turn his gaze towards Bangladesh, exploring his ancestral roots, his cultural heritage, and the complex construct of a homeland in the globalized world. Ahmed captures Khan's journey to Bangladesh, absorbing its cultural richness, connecting with its people, and understanding its realities – all of which feed into the making of 'Desh'.

Within its wide-ranging narrative arc, the film also provides a singular portrait of Khan’s remarkable artistic journey, hinting at his inclination towards the classical Indian dance form, Kathak, his tutelage under the renowned dancer Sri Pratap Pawar, his collaboration with major global artists, and eventually, his emergence as a distinct creative voice with a universal appeal. This portrait, in many ways, serves as a broader commentary on the dynamic intersections of culture, identity, and migration and their influence on an artist.

In essence, Akram Khan: Homeland – the Making of Desh is a fascinating combination of a behind-the-scenes documentary, a dancer’s personal journey, and a universal story of identity and belonging. It is both an illuminating portrait of an artist at work and a thought-provoking reflection on cultural hybridity, global diaspora, and the intrinsic human need for a homeland.

This film indeed proves to be an excellent watch not just for fans of Akram Khan and aficionados of contemporary dance but also for individuals intrigued by the in-depth processes behind a mammoth theatrical production and those keen to engage with nuanced narratives about identity, culture, and belonging. It's a beautiful exploration of identity and belonging through an intensive creative process and is bound to leave its viewers enriched and stimulated.