12th Chennai International Documentary and
Short Film Festival 2024
20-29 February; multiple venues, Chennai
Indian Documentaries : Competition
Seed Stories
Dir: Chitrangada Choudhury; 42:00; India; Documentary; Competition
In a village in the Niyamgiri mountains of the Eastern Ghats in Odisha, eastern India, a heroic effort is underway: barefoot ecologist Dr. Debal Deb and his 3 member-team are conserving over one thousand endangered heirloom varieties of rice, the world’s largest project of its kind.
Odisha’s Eastern Ghats region is one of the world’s surviving biodiversity hotspots, with farmers and shifting cultivators, particularly from Adivasi (Indigenous) communities like the Kondhs possessing the knowledge of growing multiple crops with their own heirloom seeds, evolved over centuries. At the same time, the village and the wider region is irreversibly changing with the coming of genetically modified Bt and herbicide-tolerant cotton seeds and associated agrochemicals.
‘Seed Stories’ takes a worm’s eye view of how the swift expansion of a chemical-intensive cotton monoculture is reshaping a geography and a people steeped in agro-ecological knowledge, and altering their attitudes towards farming, food and ecology. It invites audiences to reflect on the question, ‘What is sustainability?
Beyond hatred and power, we keep singing
Dir: Ramdas Kadavallur; 1:55:44; India; Documentary; Competition
In the times of authoritarian interventions that stifle democratic voices and constitutional rights, by hate mongering and spreading animosity among the people, the documentary chronicles the resistance of people through songs and lyrics. As tellingly enunciated by Maya Angelou, these are ballads for creation of a new world order, by raising their voices against those who unabashedly trample upon the democratic rights. it germinated out of the firm conviction, rooted in and expressed by Bertolt Brecht, that “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.”
Kaittari
Dir: Saroj Kumar; 22:19; India; Documentary; Competition
Kattari is short documentary film. This film is made on the lives of Subrayanpuddur village people from Tirrupur district, Tamil Nadu. Handloom craft being part of their life since ages is now vanishing due to several reasons. Film shows their daily life and situations in a poetic and observatory form of documentary filming. Visual story telling through different filmmaking techniques gives more realistic feel.
The First Ink-Memories that make History
Dir: Shridhar K S; 46:45; India; Documentary; Competition
The film portrays the life, times, and world view of Shri Shyam Saran Negi, 105 years old, and a resident of Kalpa, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. He is considered to be the first person to cast his vote in Independent India and since then, he has not missed casting his vote in any elections. He is a strong believer in the Constitution of India and has an indomitable belief in the institution of Democracy.
My Son and His Grandfather
Dir: Bijoy Chowdhury; 38:30; India; Documentary; Competition
A daily account of a very ordinary grandfather of a lower-middleclass family in a suburban town – in the absence of the grandson.
Submerged
Dir: Iqbal Hussain; 25:00; India; Documentary; Competition
Kotmir, a village in the Dharaji Panchayat, was under the submergence area of the Omkareswar Dam built in the Narmada River. But many of the people from Kotmir had refused to leave the village due to unsettled compensation packages and they lived a subsistence life as migrant labourers in the cities. When they were forced to return homeduring the country wide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these migrant labourers faced a unique situation. They too had no work but the home-returned villagers also were left without any village body to address their issue as Dharaji Panchayat was dissolved as the villages were officially ‘under the submergence area’ They could not even avail the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a social scheme which helped secure the lost income of millions of home-returned migrant workers at that time. The film follows their saga and the struggle to avail the benefits of the MGNREGA.
Lyrical Lens- An ode to a magical photographer
Dir: Ankuran Dutta; 52:35; India; Documentary; Competition
A photograph is the harmonious outcome of various arts and skills and ace photographer Nalini Baruah uses his unnatural technique and delivers justice to this art form continuously in the last eight decades. While many photographers have excelled or pioneered different art forms, shutter guru Nalini Baruah broke all glass ceilings through his nude photography and created a subtle language of aesthetics and boldness in a remote place of northeast India.
Kidi - A Spark
Dir: Rujuta Doshi; 36:45; India; Documentary; Competition
Every year, hundreds of women are admitted in Burns Ward of Victoria Hospital in Bangalore reportedly as victims of stove burst or kitchen accident. A lot of them succumb to these injuries while the others survive to live a life with never ending trauma. This documentary is a compilation of conversations with some of the survivors, revealing the homicidal nature of the incident and their struggle to navigate through lives in its aftermath.
Tracing Shadows
Dir: Ahmed Rebin; 35:56; India; Documentary; Competition
A deep dive into the social barriers faced by certain people in three of the major metropolitan cities (Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore) in India. A close up analysis of questions like How justice is denied? How and where freedom is curtailed? And Where are they not accepted? in the cities they thought they belonged to.
The Long Road
Dir: Baylon Fonseca; 22:30; India; Documentry; Competition
'The Long Road' A Journey into Equality, Empowerment, and Unconditional Acceptance. Step onto a thought-provoking path of discovery in the compelling documentary 'The Long Road' where the lines between 'normal' and 'abnormal' & 'abled'; and & 'disabled' blur into insignificance. Directed with heartfelt curiosity, this documentary delves deep into the lives of individuals who have been blessed with unique abilities and challenges, inviting viewers to question society's perceptions of diversity.
PERUMBAKKAM
Dir: Sanjay Ridhwan; 37:42; India; Documentary; Competition
A detailed study on the dark side of the Urban housing development's eviction process and the horrors of basic human living standards in the slum clearance housing board of 'Perumbakkam'.
BIRUBALA- the fearless crusader
Dir: Dhiraj Kashyap; 26:17; India; Documentary; Competition
It is during calamities that the true nature of a person takes shape. Social activist Birubala Rabha is one such courageous woman, whose will power, tenacity and determination has helped her to overcome all the difficulties in life. This courageous tribal woman has been working tirelessly to eradicate the social stigma of witch hunting, which has been persisting in Assam for almost five decades today.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Now & Then
Dir: Jyoti Nisha; 01:50:50; India; Documentary; Competition
Dr. B. R Ambedkar: Now & Then, is a feature length documentary film that explores deep questions of human condition. Questions of liberty, equality, fraternity, social justice, exclusion and marginalized representation through, Jyoti Nisha, a Bahujan feminist filmmaker’s gaze in an upper caste Indian film industry. The film aspires to translate the praxis of Ambedkarite politics to image making and representation of marginalized subjects’ culture, history, politics in popular cinema and media. Driven by Dr. Ambedkar’s philosophy epistemologically, the film symbolically and politically documents the representation and assertion of Bahujan people in the contemporary era. Questioning the institution of caste in India, this film is a commentary on religion, revolution, politics, and the freedom of speech.
'लखी माई' The festivals of mother food (Rice)
Dir: Nitesh Kumar; 25:46; India; Documentary; Competition
In this film we will see the journey of Nine months of farmer, in which we will deals with the process of Cultivation of rice, festivals, traditions or culture like how jharkhand folk festival 'Karma puja'; and 'Sohrai puja'; interlinked with Cultivation, and the struggle of farmers while cultivation.
Archamaar (Women Warrriors)
Dir: Alfin Aloysius David; 20:00; India; Documentary; Competition
There is a place known as Vadakara in Kozhikode district Kerala, about correcting the public perception that market and carrying jobs are for men only. Vadakara Vegetable Market. Most of the porters here are women. From morning to noon, women here load the vegetables to other vehicles. When there was a shortage of work in the country, the women used to carry curry leaves and coriander leaves, which did not weigh much. They came to Vadakara market for the first time. Gradually they became porters here. They started with three women coming from Vallikkunnu. Many people came in search of better working conditions and the membership reached 35. From porters to 'Archamaar' (Women Warriors). Their day starts with reaching the market at 5:30 in the morning. By 6 o''clock the rush in the market starts and it finishes at 12 o'clock. They have to lift 65 to 70 kg of material at a time. Currently, there are only 11 members.
Powerstar
Dir: Pratik Singla; 29:24; India; Documentary; Competition
A group of climbers aspire to bring more inclusivity in the Indian climbing scene by developing new sport routes in Badami - a town known for it's historic temples of the Chalukya dynasty (6th century). Facing opposition from other climbers they stay determined to seek new ways of taking the sport forward. With the help of a crowdfunding initiative they get the support from climbers from India and abroad to bring the community togetherand train a new generation of route developers. Creating lasting bonds through a shared love for climbing.
LEH 107
Dir: Zenobius; 11:38; India; Documentary; Competition
'Leh 107' is a observational/experiential film that focuses on the lives of migrant workers at Khalsi Camp, located at an impressive altitude of 10,000 feet. The film's setting in such a secluded area, devoid of powerlines and mobile network coverage, adds an intriguing layer of isolation and challenges to the narrative., it is an authentic and unfiltered portrayal of the workers' daily lives, struggles, and triumphs in efforts to fostering empathy andunderstanding. the breathtaking natural beauty of the high-altitude location serves as avisually backdrop for the film, juxtaposing the majesty of the surroundings with the toils ofthe workers.
CAT's ATTIC
Dir: Nundrisha Wakhloo, Daksh Punj; 24:56; India; Documentary; Competition
Brair Kani, or Cat's Attic, explores an ancestral house located in Srinagar, Kashmir. A document written by the filmmaker’s grandfather traces the history of the house to shed light on its changing ownership. Through architectural elements and objects with embedded histories, the house comes alive with stories. Using the attic as a site of reflection, the film navigates the relationship between space, belonging and personal history. Inhabiting the confines of the attic, the house spirits exist simultaneously as carriers of collective memory and as manifestations of the emotional landscape. Characters—human, material and
mythical—contribute to this temporal experience of the home, as the dilapidated attic stands witness to the lived and living experiences of its inhabitants. The past, present and future are bound by uncertainty as the different narratives create a space that transcends beyond the attic to address the larger themes of home as belonging.
The Unjust and Beyond
Dir: Ratheesh Mon Panampatta; 22:43; India; Documentary; Competition
Landslides are often conceived as natural disasters. It becomes an issue of justice when it disproportionately affects different sections of society. In the Indian state of Kerala, it disproportionately affects the Dalits (“Lower caste”), Adivasis (Tribes), and the poor. The present work engages with the spatial injustice faced by the lower caste and class people in Kerala.
My Radio My Life
Dir: Bidit Roy, Makarand Waikar; 01:08:00; India; Documentary; Competition
Set in the 21st century, the film revisits the golden era of radio in India, when it was the dominant, popular, and only source of entertainment, news, and knowledge. Being a medium that is heard across national borders, the radio has been instrumental in expanding horizons and enriching the lives of generations. Besides giving companionship to individuals, the radio brought families together and inspired people to make life choices.
When The Earth Rusted
Dir: Duttatreya Dey; 17:05; India; Documentary; Competition
Students of a film institute tread through elusive memories and a long lost time, as they try to find meaning in the aftermath of a student’s absence.
Our Film
Dir: Dakxin Chhara; 49:00; India; Documentary; Competition
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a collective of indigenous artists belonging to India’s ‘ex-criminal’ De-notified Tribes and associated with Budhan Theatre, decided to produce video-podcasts of the impact of the pandemic on the margins. This process was an effort to generate memory against processes of collective amnesia; and to usher indigenous communities to the digital space in a post-pandemic context, where the digital has become an essential component of our cultural and economic life. This film tells the story of the makers, who did not stop recording despite losing members of their own family along the way.
The Leopard's Tribe
Dir: Miriam Chandy Menacherry; 40:00; India; Documentary; Competition
Mumbai authorities axe thousands of trees to expand a mass transit system. Home to 10,000 indigenous tribals led by Prakash Bhoir a scuffle unfolds to protect forest and the leopard they worship. A battle to save the green lungs of India’s financial capital unfolds. He joins a hip-hop band, gets legal counsel but it is Pramila, his wife who is his biggest ally. She surprises everyone by stepping into the frontlines of a battle with high political stakes. This is the story of a marginalised couple, forced to be leaders through floods, fires and leopard attacks to claim their position as climate leaders in one of the fastest growing metropolis in the world.
Penmudra
Dir: Jishnu Krishnan A; 37:20; India; Documentary; Competition
The movie outlines a socio-political and historical journey of women in the oldest classical theatre form of Kerala called Koodiyattam. It is trying to look into the historical foundations and contemporary changes that happened to the role of women in classical art spaces through the life and experiences of women performers and scholars who comes from both traditional and modern styles of training and different kind of school of thought.
Tam-bram Cooking
Dir: Sraiyanti, Prem Akkattoos; 10:02; India; Documentary; Competition
A man who works as a security guard in an apartment complex goes about his day, while the residents who live there express their views on caste, identity and their own social standing. But actions speak louder than words.
The Legacy from Beyond
Dir: Harsh Raj Gond; 26:21; India; Documentary; Competition
The Legacy from Beyond is a documentary provides an insightful exploration of Gond art and depicts the lives and struggles of Gond artists who are passionately keeping the Gond art form alive even today. Residing in Patangarh village, they carry forward this art legacy left by the legendary Gond tribal artist Late Shri Jangarh Singh Shyam.
Seaside
Dir: Iniya Vasanthan; 18:50; India; Documentary; Competition
Kasimedu fish market is one of the major fish market in Chennai. It is a very lively place all day. From boats bringing fish to people buying it fresh directly from there, everything is quite interesting to observe. Kadaloram(seaside) is a short documentary film made on that place and the people. The film shows how the market functions, in a visually grounded treatment and also with the interview of a person from the community. Jaya, is been selling seafood for 12 years in that place. The narrative structure of the film moves forward majorly as an observational documentation being among them.
God Vulture and Human - A hero's dichotomy
Dir: Rishiraj Agarwal; 49:27; India; Documentary; Competition
The film explores the subject of organ donation through the lens of transplant coordinators, highlighting their role in the process of organ donation, retrieval and transplantation. Through the lives of 4 transplant coordinators, the film deals with the intensities of life and death, and an attempt to humanise the coordinators.
Portmanteau: The Word And The World
Dir: Dhananjay Bhawalekar; 29:58; India; Documentary; Competition
The film depicts the project of the People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI), led by Prof. Ganesh Devy carried with the team of about 3000 volunteers. It is the world's largest linguistic survey carried out at the beginning of the 21st century. It presents the process of conceptualizing and gathering information on over 700 Indian languages. The documentary highlights the significance of preservation of languages and their cultural heritage. The focus of the film is the work of Prof. Devy related to the language diversity in India and to show how essential it is to India';s democracy.
The Old Man And The Cinema
Dir: Bijoy Chowdhury; 8:29; India; Short Fiction; competition
Dir: Bijoy Chowdhury; 8:29; India; Short Fiction; competition
"The Old Man And The Cinema" is a heartwarming and nostalgic documentary film that explores the enduring love story between a nonagenarian manager and a vintage single-screen cinema hall named "Chhabighar" in the heart of Kolkata, India.
Indian Documentry – Non Competition
From the Shadows
Dir: Miriam Chandy Menacherry; 01:16:09; India; Documentary; Non Competition
From the Shadows uses the imagery of public art to delve into missing narratives. Paint cans and stencils in hand, Leena Kejriwal relentlessly sprays splattered walls with a girl’s shadow #missing #everyeightminutes, a haunting reminder that girls disappear at a staggering pace. The narrative starts from her terrace overlooking Asia’s largest red-light district and into the world’s largest delta, quick sands of missing cases.
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