While Tuesday marked completion of three decades since the Bhopal Gas tragedy which was considered to be one of the most horrific chemical disasters, a screening of documentaries on such disasters and their impact on people and the environment were screened at Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women here on Tuesday.
R.S. Rajan of Yadharthaa, a city-based film society which had organised the screenings, said that two of the documentaries screened, ‘Seconds from Disaster: Bhopal Nightmare’ and ‘Chernobyl Heart’ would depict the impact of two horrific disasters on millions of people and how they affected many generations.
“Two other Belgian films, ‘Home’ and ‘Thirst World’ will show the evolution of the environment and landscape over the years. These films will be a powerful medium for creating awareness among the students,” Mr Rajan added.
Students from the college attended the screenings. Many of them spoke on how they were unaware of the extent of the Bhopal tragedy and that the films provided an insight into the impact that such chemical disasters had on the people and the environment, decades after it had happened.
Documentary and short film maker R.P. Amuthan addressed the students and highlighted the importance of such screenings and film festivals.
“While a few foreign films and documentaries are difficult to gain access to, such special screenings result in so much exposure. Viewing such powerful documentaries can be life-changing experiences and it is essential that students are exposed to such works,” he added.
