Pedestrian Pictures, in association with Student Christian Movement, is offering film buffs an opportunity to watch Candles in the wind, a documentary by Kavita Bahl and Nandan Saxena. The film will be screened at SCM House Auditorium, Mission Road, in Bangalore, at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday
Candles in the wind received special mention at the 61st National Film Awards. It was described as a chilling depiction of ground realities in Punjab. The tone and texture of the film contradicted the prevalent narrative of Punjab being the best place to live and work, a press release said.
Punjab and its storyThis documentary is about farmers’ suicides in Punjab and farm widows who are facing a major crisis in re-negotiating their space in a patriarchal society.
Punjab, the food bowl of India, is in the news for policy induced remunerative agriculture and escalating farmer suicides. While men find escape in death, the widows bear the burden of debts, and affirm their faith in life by taking care of their children, parents and the fields. They stand for the feminine principles of love and nurturing. With their backs to the wall, they fight the State and the corporations.
The film portrays the silent march of these women and their struggle provides a window into the social-economic flux in rural India.
Kavita Bahl and Nandan Saxena are independent film-makers and their oeuvre spans the domains of culture, ecology, livelihoods, development and human rights, the release said. Candles in the wind was screened at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Greece, recently.
According to Shibi Peter, organiser of the event, both Kavitha Bahl and Nandan Saxena will be present for discussion after the screening of the documentary.
