Disturbing frames
ANUJ KUMAR
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At the just concluded Open Frame 2007, some films raised some disquieting questions.
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Touching A still from “Ayodhya Gatha”
At the just concluded Open Frame 2007, some films raised a key question. Could films be used as a political tool? Vani Subramanium’s “Ayodhya Gatha” is a touching account of how deeply the politics of hate affect personal and everyday lives. Vani goes to Ayodhya to discover how the city has coped up with what happened on December 6, 1992. And discovers the scars are still there and attempts are still being made to keep them bleeding. For Rs.20 the CDs showing demolition of the Babri mosque are on sale. “I wanted to show to the youngsters, a man who used to pray at the Babri mosque. Because 10 years down the line he might be no more and in the din of the anti-Islamic propaganda, the youth might lose out on the history…the reality.”
Striking footage
Similarly “Tales From The Margins” by Kavita Joshi brings into focus the ongoing non-violent protest of Irom Sharmila demanding repealing of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 from Manipur. The act allows anyone of any rank in the army or a paramilitary force under its operational command to shoot, arrest or search without warrant; and to kill on suspicion alone. The whole Manipur has continuously been under this law since 1980 (with minor exceptions in recent times).
With striking footage of twelve women stripping themselves on the streets of Manipur, the film questions why women of Manipur are using their bodies as their last weapon. “The irony is the utter neglect shown by the national media to the issue. And when it did come into focus it was sensationalised in the manner of Amitabh Bachchan’s 60th birthday.”
This leads to another critical question, whose attention the national media is attempting to catch? Israeli filmmaker Uri Rosenwaks gives an amusing insight. “Being an Israeli, I am always glued to news channels but from the time I have landed in India, I am just watching news about a guy who has killed some antelopes. I know his haircut, his food habits and what not.”
Vani feels the media seems to be working on the premise that who could be the star. “And people like Irom (a Gandhian) don’t fit in this stereotype.” She feels people have become so much used to a certain kind of high pitched news that if you present an alternative they get shocked. “I realised this when I got a call after my film was shown on Doordarshan. The person said so you have made a film. We didn’t expect it.”
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