Deepa Dhanaraj narrates ‘the (an)other side of Camera’

The sixth edition of International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala will showcase six films of renowned documentary film maker and woman activist Deepa Dhanraj, curated as ‘the (an)other side of the camera’.

Deepa has an extensive filmography spanning nearly three decades that include many series of films on education and health as well as award winning documentaries. ‘The Advocate' (2007), 'Invoking Justice' (2011), "Nari Adalat" (2000), 'The Legacy of Malthus' (1994), 'Something like a War' (1991), and 'Kya Hua Iss Shehar Ko' (1986) will be screened in the festival.

'Invoking Justice' is a powerful documentary that chronicles the struggle of a group of women to bring the private, domestic issues of women into the public domain defined by the community. The film follows the all-women council as they tackle complex family conflicts, varying from a request for divorce to murder cases.

The Legacy of Malthus

'Kya Hua Is Shahar Ko' ( What Has Happened to This City) is a historical perspective of the contemporary relevance of communal violence between Hindus and Muslims in Hyderabad city in September 1984.

Women's interest is put first in the functioning of Nari Adalat or women courts an alternative legal system and that is the core of Dhanraj's Nari Adalat. Dissatisfied with the existing judicial system, rural and lower caste women set up their own courts called Nari Adalat raising their voice against Patriarchal, casteist village councils and civil courts.

A perspective by women on one of the historical overview of India's coercive Family Planning Program is what Dhanraj conveys through her film, 'Something like a War. Cynicism and brutality of society is being exposed entirely through the film.  Watching 'The Advocate', which is partly biography and partly history, deals with the remarkable contribution of Mr. Kannabiran in challenging the Indian State, the rule of law, the justice and political praxis. It leaves one with a sharp dreary and stale conscience, since the person in this film is no more.

Invoking Justice

The film 'The Legacy of Malthus' postulates the Malthusian theory for making responsible 'overpopulation' as a factor for poverty and environmental degradation.