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Journalism of Courage
Madhusree Dutta believes every woman relives Mahadevi Akka, the 19th century poetess on whom she8217;s making a documenatry film
While Dutta8217;s I Live.. w0as a documentary on a Muslim ghetto in Bombay during the communal riots of 1992-93, Memories of Fear was a film on the relationship between growing up of young girls and domestic violence. They both reflected the legal side of Majlis, a socio-legal organisation named after the Hindi word that means Association. Even Kya Aapko.. was a series of five spots on legal rights of women shot in the form of comic strips narrating stories about women learning their rights. But Dutta8217;s cultural flexes took over again 8212; she did theatre all her life in Calcutta till she started the organisation with advocate Flavia Agnes in 1989 8212; with Sundari... Premiered last year, the film documented female impersonation in early 20th century.
Beginning with a scene in Mumbai, the film inquires into the multiple construction of Mahadevi Akka 8212; played by Seema Biswas 8212; as in the conceptions that8217;ve evolved through community rituals, readings and representations in the works of contemporary artists. And cinematic representation of her Vachanas poems.
So, while Dutta8217;s soon-to-be-released film has her interviewing artist Neelima Sheikh who is painting a series on the poetess, Ilayiraaja, also a devotee of Akka, has composed all the six songs for the film. But do documentaries have an audience? They obviously don8217;t suffice the commercial interest. There was a time when it depressed Dutta. But, over the years, she has worked out an answer for people and herself. No longer choosing to compare documentaries with commercial cinema, she say: quot;We don8217;t have those kind of resources and we don8217;t choose the same subjects. But with whatever we have if we are able to screen the film in ten cities for 1,000 people each, then according to our budget we have enough audeience.quot; A feel-good support!
