Documentaries from India
1) Sikhirini Mwsanai (Dance of the Butterfly)
Dir. Subasri Krishnan; 65 min; Bodo, Hindi and English with Eng subtitles; India ; 2019
Sikhirni Mwsanai, literally, dance of the butterfly in Bodo, expresses the delicate almost fragile rhythms of traditional Bodo music and dance. The film traces the journey of "Sifung Harimu Afad" a cultural troupe of young adult Bodos as they rediscover those rhythms in their efforts to revive live music and dance performance in Chirang district, Assam. Using traditional musical instruments like the Kham, Serja and Sifung, the group attempts to foreground Bodo identity through disappearing cultural forms.
2) Noor Islam
Dir : Devshree Nath; 20 min; Assamese, Bengali with Eng subtitles; India; 2019
The documentary traces the struggles of one such native who is slowly losing his identity and eventually is deemed as an illegal immigrant. The film tries to explore his state of mind; of a person who is on the verge of losing his nationality and consequently losing almost everything he has.
His broken hopes cause a turbulence in his mind whilst the serene beauty of Assam and his humble lifestyle paint a contrast against this inner tempest.
3) Holy Rights
Dir : Farha Khatun; 53 min; Urdu with Eng subtitles; India; 2020
Safia, a deeply religious Muslim woman from Bhopal in Central India, driven by her belief that because of the patriarchal mindset of the interpreters of Sharia, Muslim women are denied equality and justice in the community. She joins a program that trains women as Qazis, (Muslim clerics who interpret and administer the personal law), which is traditionally a male preserve. The film documents her journey as she struggles and negotiates through hitherto uncharted territory, exploring the tensions that arise when women try to change the status quo and take control of narratives that so deeply affect their lives.
4) Udaan
Dir : Poorvi Priya, Priya Singh, Ritika Gupta, Varun Pandey, Vishruti Saraf ; 18.34 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; India; 2019
Udaan, the movie, is based in Rafiq Nagar, Govandi, one of the most under- developed regions of Mumbai. It focuses on the issue of dignified livelihoods for marginalized women in Mumbai slums. Through the protagonists Johra and Fareeda, the documentary wades into the daily lives of women, issues of collectivization, and the way forward.
5) Selflessly Yours
Dir: Navya Sahai Bhatnagar; 2.48 min; English; 2019; India
In this video feature, we tell the story of Manimegalai, the first woman Panchayat Head of Poompuhar Village, in Nagapattinam district of Coastal Tamil Nadu. A popular social worker, 68-year old Manimegalai remained a Panchayat head for ten long years. Despite deep patriarchal prejudices, she worked selflessly for her village.
6) Via Frequency
Dir: Susanna Cherian; 4.07 min; English; 2019; India
The Community radio at Vizhundamavadi acts as a means of informing and mobilizing the coastal communities in times of natural disasters. During Cyclone Gaja, the Kalanjiam Samuga Vanoli played a crucial role in providing relief information and in aiding the locals to safety. The Radio has its own rural reporters. The radio station which is 3kms from the coast, does not cover just local issues but has also emerged as an opportunity for young local talent to get recognized through sharing their music and stories. Thus, even when there is no calamity, the radio station serves as a medium of educating and empowering the masses.
7) Two Autumns in Wyszogród
Dir: Amit Mahanti & Ruchika Negi; 60.03 min; Polish with Eng subtitles; India; 2020
In 2015, the wreckage of a Soviet Red Army plane shot down by the Nazis at the end of World War II was excavated from a tributary of the Vistula River, near the town of Wyszogród in Poland. The Soviet origin of the plane drew a lot of attention because of Poland’s tenuous relationship with Russia (and erstwhile USSR) and the continuing debate over its communist legacy. Was the wreckage a symbol of Poland’s war-torn past that should be commemorated, or a bitter reminder of another nation’s domination and control? What did the wreckage mean for Wyszogród and why did it choose to house it?
8) They are Dying
Dir : Dhananjay Bhawalekar; 28.37 min; Rajasthani, Hindi with Eng subtitles; India; 2020
"They are dying....let us preserve them before their extinction".... a valid people's linguistic survey denotes that India boasts 780 languages, majority of which are unknown...let us conserve them through pictures and sounds...let us capture them in lenses to save dying cultures.
9) Living Dreams
Dir : Ritwik Baiju; 29 min; Malayalam with Eng subtitles; India; 2019
Jeevan, a software engineer by profession suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta. The documentary chronicles the life of Jeevan, who resides in Bengaluru, India and his life story narrated by his parents and Jeevan himself. The film depicts and narrates the endearing story of a family who has fought all the odds to bring up a child of such a condition to be a jovial and strong person. Several stages of Jeevan’s life, from his birth to his present life is shown in nonlinear pattern.
10) Navi Mumbai Navi Begari
Dir : Aishwarya Vasudev, Subodh Minto, Meghna Nandy and Ankit Pareek; 19.50 min; Marathi, Hindi and English; 2018
The Nakas of Navi Mumbai are an embodiment of the bustling vibrancy that defines the city. They happen to be the site of many different kinds of economic activities on a daily basis one of which is the recruitment of informal construction workers for various developmental projects and construction work happening around the city. The film follows the lives of the construction workers vis-à-vis the nakas and explores the Nakas as a space.
11) Stop Acid Attack
Dir : Farha Khatun; 1.33 min; No dialogue; 2019
The film depicts how a beautiful life can end with the heinous act of throwing acid on somebody.
12) Chal Ga Heera
Dir: Manasi, Prakriti, Prashant, Sreya, Tanushree; 13.10 min; Hindi and Marathi with Eng subtitles; 2019
The film based in Mankhurd follows the journey of two women – Ajuma Bi Shaikh (Khala) and Ratna Mane along with the efforts by the women of the community. Patra Chawl, Transit Camp and Bheem Nagar are settlements based in Mumbai’s M-Ward, and are always at the risk of demolition. The women of the community have brought their own issues to the fore, and make attempts to address these through a union or sangathan that has been formed by their collective efforts.
13) Tabdeeli
Dir: Anmol Saini, Anna Binu, Rishika Revo, Sankarsan Behera, Vyshakh Balachandran; 24 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2019
Tabdeeli, which means transformation, showcases the journey of two women community leaders working towards eradicating the social evil of domestic violence against women and girls. Working with CORO (Committee for Resource Organisation), Kausar Parveen and Sadiqa Shaikh have been engaged with the predominantly Muslim community residing in Kamla Raman Nagar of Baiganwadi area in Mumbai. Through their tireless approach of rescue, counselling and rehabilitation for survivors and their families; they have not just helped women within the community but also themselves.
14) Zindabad
Dir: Kavya, Srishti, Lavanya, Apoorva, Ajay; 14.21 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2019
Zindabad traces the Jeevan Bachao Andolan through the eyes of Anita Dhole, a former resident of Vidyavhar and one of the leading figures in the movement. After their houses were demolished by the BMC, Anita along with other residents was rehabilitated to Mahul. Located in close proximity to a large complex of chemical factories, residents of Mahul have been facing serious health concerns resulting in over 88 deaths in the past 5 years. Protesting against the violation of their basic rights Anita has been living on the footpath opposite the original site of demolition for over 365 days.
15) An Inconvenient Development
Dir: Ajay, Anagha, Kavya, Prakriti, Sreya; 17.01 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2020
The land that Aarey forest stands on has been contested for a long time through various forms of reclamation, occupation and land use change.The most recent dialogue surrounding Aarey is one of urban protest – following the axing of more than 2000 trees by the MMRCL for the construction of a Metro car shed at Aarey. The film explores ideas surrounding the invisibilisation of the lives of indigenous people, and the unchecked dominance of urbanity and urban development.
16) Love in Bombay
Dir: Anmol Saini, Isha Srivastava, Priya Singh, Priyanshu Pandey, Rishika Revo, Vishruti Saraf; 23 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2020
Love in Bombay, as the title says, explores the existence of romantic love in the metropolitan city of Mumbai. This city of dreams, as it is famously called, is known for its larger-than-life depiction of romance in Bollywood and for its high-rise buildings that define the city as a progressive metropolitan. But in this beautiful city that never sleeps, one that has space for all, does love stand a chance to exist? Are the people of aamchi Mumbai free to love and express their love romantically?
17) Sharamjeevi
Dir: Tarun Bhartiya; 43.50 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2020
SHRAMJEEVI narrates the hopes and tragedies of the working class lives in Kapasehra village, one of the largest settlements of migrant workers in India.
18) Bamboo Ballads
Dir: Sajid Naduthody; 29.49 min; Malayalam with Eng subtitles; 2020
It is the story of a school student Naina Febin who uses music to conserve her favorite plant, Bamboo. She plants bamboo saplings in every available space. She distributes bamboo saplings to the families in her neighborhood. Naina is writing a book on bamboo. She has formed a bamboo music band that uses instruments only made out of bamboo.
19) Far from the Madding Crowd
Dir: Abeer Khan; 17.31 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles
It revolves around a mad-man and his life in Mumbai rains. The title is based on Thomas Hardy's novel - Far from the Madding Crowd. It's an illustration depicting that sanity is subjective. It is about people who are mad enough to live by themselves in this congested world.
20) KAFIR
Dir: Remya; 5.32 min; Malayalam with Eng subtitles; 2019
20) KAFIR
Dir: Remya; 5.32 min; Malayalam with Eng subtitles; 2019
Kafir is a docu-fiction that explores the Kappiri myth of Fort Kochi, Kerala. In the film, an attempt to dig the real history behind African slaves brought in by the Portuguese is made. How a slave from Africa became the savior spirit of Fort Kochi is the question the story teller tries to crack open. In short, it's all about History, Myth, and Mystery behind the Kappirimuthappan of Fort Kochi.
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