Date:20/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122050060200.htm

New Delhi

Heralding change through cinema

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: A three-day documentary film festival organised by The Public Service Broadcasting Trust opened at Siri Fort Auditorium here on Friday. Four documentaries selected in the “Indian Panorama-2008” by renowned filmmakers will be screened during the festival. The first day witnessed two thought-provoking documentaries.

The opening film “Divided Colours of a Nation” by filmmaker Umesh Aggarwal was based on caste based reservations and Golden Deer Award winning documentary “Apna Aloo Bazaar Becha” by Pankaj Gupta was based on developmental theme in a tiny village in Garhwal.

The second day of the festival will see the screening of “Rehana: A Quest for Freedom” by Gargi Sen and Priyanka Mukherjee. The film tries to understand the genesis of the emergence of a leader. It presents the life and work of Rehana Adib who works with women from marginalised communities in Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. A woman from a minority community, Rehana is a mother of six and a crusader for social change.

“Four Women and a Room” by Ambarien Al Qadar will be screened on the last day. This documentary explores the complex ways in which women understand and experience motherhood. PSBT Managing Trustee Rajiv Mehrotra says the purpose of a non-profit institution such as PSBT is to herald change in the non-print media in India and thus the organisation is keen to help bring out stories that reflect on these issues. “PSBT aims to empower the Indian filmmaker, while aspiring for standards of transparency and accountability.”