A silver screen to every cloud
NARESH GULATI
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Reaching out to the suffering was the theme that brought together filmmakers and audiences at this Ahmedabad film festival.
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Drishti Media, Arts and Human Rights, a group at Ahmedabad hosted a film festival devoted to peace recently. Called the Nazariya Films for Peace Festival, it screened 12 films at Natrani, the amphitheatre in the Darpan Academy of Performing Arts. Darpan is chiefly Mrinalini and Mallika Sarabhai's abode of creativity. But then it has the tremendous inclination to reach out by stretching its horizons.
The four-day festival achieved several things in one go: screening of sensitively made documentary films on varied concerns brought from across continents; bringing together concerned citizens whose principal concern remained the nursing of the wounds left by the Gujarat violence, even as each film brought out the best of their sensitivity to issues cutting across barriers of language, land and economic status; and no less importantly, an urge among the people, particularly the younger lot, to extend a helping hand to the suffering fraternity.
Miseries of fishermen
Suffering, for instance of the fishermen of Mangrol and other coastal areas of Gujarat. "The Catch" by Hridaynath Gharekhan focused on the miseries of these fishermen who are caught by the Coast Guards from Pakistan. The film did not limit itself to the Indian fishermen; it also captured similar travails of the fishermen on the Pakistani side. Made in the context of the sovereign economic rights in the seawaters facing Sir Creek area, pending resolution of the dispute, the film captures the sad plight of those taken hostage and their families. These hapless fishermen are repatriated only months and years after; on occasions of so-called `goodwill missions' between the two countries.
Having met indifference from the authorities, a dejected and clueless Gharekhan expected the audience to chalk out an action plan in the face of the fast approaching UN deadline for clinching the dispute between the two neighbours.
The suffering of the Kashmiris, both resident and non-resident, was highlighted in the film "Across the LOC Kashmir". Made by the visiting Pakistani journalist Munizae Jahangir, this was based mainly on interactions of the Pakistani journalists in 2004 with Shabbir Shah, Syed Ali Shah Jilani, Yasin Malik, lawyers, media students from Kashmir and migrant Kashmiris.
Even as the dominant strain that emerged from the utterances of those interviewed was that of five years of independent status for Kashmir, disparate voices in Kashmir itself make the whole issue so complex. True that the GOI successively fails to seize an initiative to solve the imbroglio, cynicism on the part of sundry leaders of Kashmir is equally to be blamed. Hurriyat the multi-party coalition has as many voices, making it practically impossible to sift an initiative acceptable to a common denominator.
Another striking show was a 28-minute video magazine made by a community group from slums of Ahemdabad. This `G-8' of earthy individuals showed "Apno Samvad Ekta Par". Shot only with an amateur Canon, the episode was focused on celebration of festivals among Hindus and Muslims in the backdrop of Diwali and Id just celebrated. And it did capture some touching moments from ordinary lives to the hearty applause of the viewers who curiously discussed what moved them to come together!
Manipur turmoil
"Untitled 3 Narrations" by Kavita Joshi was about the turmoil in Manipur and the demand for withdrawing the Disturbed Area Act. It brought out how Sharmila, a young resident from the state, has been fasting for the demand now for more than five years. In the category of hate crimes against women, "Rape of Who I Am" by Lovinsa Kavuma of South Africa focused on rapes of lesbians and their shattered lives. Other films that were screened included "Terror's Children" (Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Canada), "We should Talk Peace" (Mark Beach, U.S.), "The House on Gulmohar Avenue" (Samina Mishra) and others.
While most events end just there, Drishti's Fest has a sequel: in some follow-up in the coming week, when the concerned ones gather with Mallika, M.K. Stalin, the moving spirit of the Fest and others to take stock of what can be done.
So, who said change was impossible?
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