Election Diaries 2024
A CeMIS (Centre for Modern Indian Studies) production
The Election Diaries produced by CeMIS (the Centre for Modern Indian Studies), comprise nine documentary films that tell the story of the 2024 Indian elections for different stakeholders, encompassing different issues over diverse locations, linguistic regions and states. From the possibility and potential of queer representation in electoral politics, to the contestation and appropriation of cultural symbols and caste politics in Tamil Nadu; from the survival of Muslim identity politics in Hyderabad to the ethnocentrism of son-of-the-soil versus outsider politics in Meghalaya; from the awakening of a social movement in Karnataka that combats Hindu majoritarianism to the aspirations and frustrations of political activists and local youth in small town Uttar Pradesh; from an analysis of the election manifesto of a visionary Leftist leader in Kerala, to a story of redemption and political survival in West Bengal, to a stirring grass roots campaign in Bihar, Election Diaries 2024 is a reflection of the anxieties brought about by the seemingly inexorable march of Hindu majoritarianism, as also the fierce, and oftentimes heroic struggles of oppositional parties, movements, and individuals in the battle for a continuing democratic future for India.
We are happy to screen the following six films from the package :
Alishan Jafri and Omair Farooq : Crescent in the Saffron Sky (53 min)
As Hindu nationalism sweeps India and pushes Muslims to the wall, Asaduddin Owaisi, a prominent Muslim leader, sees an opportunity to expand his political ambitions. But does his politics have a future? This documentary dives deeper than the headlines that routinely demonize Owaisi, offering a nuanced portrait of the leader and the challenges faced by smaller parties like the AIMIM who engage in identity politics.
Location: Hyderabad, Telengana
Amit Mahanti: Inside Out (57 min)
By looking at the electoral battle between two regional parties in Meghalaya and their articulation of ethnicity and identity, the film explores notions of belonging and otherness through the eyes of the filmmaker, an insider-outsider in Shillong today.
Location: Shillong, Meghalaya
Anjali Monteiro and K.P Jayasanker: State of Hope (65 min)
Based in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, State of Hope follows the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign of Left Democratic Front candidate Dr. T.M. Thomas Isaac in the context of his contributions to initiatives for people’s empowerment.
Location: Pathanamthitta, Kerala
Greeshma Kuthar and Manju Priya K: Our Symbol is? (51min)
As Hindu nationalism and other dominant ideologies seep into Tamil Nadu’s political context, a cultural battleground takes shape-where identity is contested, symbols are repurposed, and tradition is strategically redefined. “Our Symbol is?” explores a state at a turning point: who defines its symbols, who benefits from their meaning, and in this struggle for power and identity, what will Tamil Nadu preserve- and what will it leave behind?
Location: Various locations in Tamil Nadu
Pankaj Rishi Kumar: Gola Dreams (51 min)
Location: Bengaluru, Various locations in Karnataka
CREDITS:
