MIFF 2016: Open Forum, I--Balancing Act

Open Forum, a platform for discussing and debating ideas related to several aspects of documentary, short and animation films, is a permanent feature of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). It is organised by the Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA). The first of these forums was held on 29th January 2016, in the open space outside J.B. Hall, Films Division Complex, the main venue of the festival.

‘Ethical and moral dilemmas that documentary film-makers face while working—what to include and what not to—how to present the truth with dignity, in challenging environments,’ was the topic for the inaugural session. Speakers included Biju Toppo, Nakul Singh Sawhney and Nitesh Anjaan, with Priya Krishnaswamy being the moderator.

Editor-director Krishnaswamy, who is known for her work both in the documentary (What About the Children?) and feature (Gangoobai) film arenas, started by defining the role of documentary makers as ‘representers’, part of a communication process. On the other hand, mainstream media, like major television channels and big newspapers, were more inclined towards feeding pre-conceived ideas, being ideologically driven and tilting towards the powerful. Such media vehicles came in for a fair bit of tongue-lashing at the Open Forum.

Sawhney, maker of Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai, lamented that mainstream media, in the name of fairness, gave vent to the perpetrators of atrocities.

National award-winning documentary-maker (Loha Garam Hai) and culture and communication activist, Biju Toppo, who works in the Jharkhand state of India, confessed that he made films for the adivasis (aboriginals), focussing on their lot and their problems. If, in the process, they appear one-sided, “...so be it. Our fight is for jan (people)-jangal (jungles)-jameen (zameen/land), and we represent the exploited. How can we give the other side of the story when the administration is so hostile and even breaks our cameras?”

Anjaan, a young documentary-maker from Denmark, whose 71-min film Far From Home was screened just before the forum and went on to win the prize for the best debut film, shared his dilemma of making a film about his father, who had migrated from India and wanted to go back in his old age. Should he film the personal details, including moments like his father smoking? Should he go ahead with the film at all? He was persuaded to go ahead by his younger brother. Happily for him, the film, when shown on Danish TV in shortly before MIFF, was appreciated by many, including his father.

Another moral dilemma was addressed by Nakul Sawhney. Should a docu-maker keep the camera on, even after the subject has requested it to be switched off? Such a request might be made for many reasons, but one of them is the subject’s unwillingness to reveal facts/details on camera, but willingness to talk off camera/off the record. There are many examples of the camera capturing off the record stuff in a number of documentaries. Sawhney was of the opinion that in the case of a powerful subject, he might leave the camera on, while if the subject was weak and exploited, he might switch it off. “It has to be dealt with on a case to case basis.”

“Documentary film-makers are like Caesar’s wife,” concluded Priya, “they have to be above suspicion. And this applies in spite of the fact that cinema is a plastic medium.”

(Special thanks to Rahul Jain, IDPA)