#IFFIWood, 22 November 2025

‘Breath and Emotion: A Masterclass on Performances,’ led by theatre maestro Vinay Kumar K J of Adishakti, emerged as one of the most intellectually stimulating and immersive sessions at IFFI this year. A disciple of the late theatre Guru Veenapani Chawla and Artistic Director of the Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Arts Research, Vinay brought a distinctive blend of rigor, tradition and embodied wisdom to the stage.

Before the session began, Shri Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, felicitated the speaker. What followed was a masterclass that moved far beyond the boundaries of dais and audience. Vinay frequently stepped off the stage, engaging directly with the audience, asking questions, listening closely, and transforming the hall into a shared space of exploration.

Vinay opened the session by prompting the audience to rethink the very idea of emotion. People, he noted, often live under the same roof but remain unaware of each other’s emotional worlds. What evoked emotion decades ago may no longer hold relevance today, particularly because emotion evolves with time, context and cultural conditioning.

He then shifted to the role of the body in feeling and expressing emotions, suggesting that none of our physical movements are purely intuitive. From social spaces to public environments, our gestures are shaped by learned behaviours. Emotion, therefore, is not only felt internally but performed externally, often without conscious awareness.

In one of the most striking sections of the masterclass, Vinay argued that breath, not the brain, is the primary controller of human mechanics. Each breath generates pressure; each change in pressure alters muscularity. This physicality, he explained, forms the basis of what we call emotion. A heart rate of 72 bpm may signal balance, while lower or higher ranges reflect depression, fear or agitation. Emotion, in this framing, becomes a physiological response before it becomes a psychological interpretation.

Vinay connected these ideas to ancient Indian knowledge systems, reminding the audience that early physicians, especially in Ayurveda, studied emotion through circulation and internal rhythm of the body. Today, however, individuals live amid unprecedented emotional complexity, a burden the human body is not naturally designed to carry.

Building on this foundation, Vinay led the audience into the Navarasa, illustrating how each rasa has a distinct bodily response, breath pattern and muscular signature. Vinay also discussed subtle rhythms we often overlook: the listener’s nod, the speaker’s hand gestures, and the breath-led cues that guide emotional communication.

Through demonstrations, exercises and continuous interaction, Vinay Kumar delivered a masterclass that was both intellectually rich and experientially grounded. Participants left with a deeper understanding of how breath, body and emotion work together, a knowledge essential not only for performers but for anyone seeking to understand the human condition more fully.

About IFFI

Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.

For more information, click on:

IFFI Website: https://www.iffigoa.org/

PIB’s IFFI Microsite: https://www.pib.gov.in/iffi/56new/

PIB IFFIWood Broadcast Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEiBaML2AU6gnzWOm3F

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PIB IFFI CAST AND CREW | Ritu Shukla/Sayyid Rabeehashmi/ Sreeshma K/Darshana Rane | IFFI 56 - 041